New Delhi: Amidst the deafening silence of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the protest against the wrestling federation chief, Hisar MP Brijendra Singh reiterated his support to the grapplers, saying it was “absolutely heartbreaking” that they were forced to the brink of throwing away their lifetime of hard work.
Singh had last month tweeted that “it’s disheartening to see our wrestlers protesting on the streets”.
On Tuesday, aggrieved wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshee Malikkh and Vinesh Phogat, who represent the collective voice of the protest, had announced to symbolically “immerse” their medals in the Ganga at Haridwar.
Later in the evening, the wrestlers arrived at Haridwar where they were eventually dissuaded by farmer leader Naresh Tikait, who intervened at the eleventh hour. After facilitating a “five-day ultimatum” to the government, Tikait took the medals from the group of agitating wrestlers.
I feel the pain and helplessness of our wrestlers forcing them to the brink of throwing away their lifetime of hardwork- the medals from Olympics, CWGs, Asian Games in the holy Ganga.
Absolutely heartbreaking.
— Brijendra Singh (@BrijendraSpeaks) May 30, 2023
The BJP MP also told the media that the matter should have been resolved when the wrestlers last sat in protest a few months ago.
ThePrint reached Brijendra Singh and Haryana BJP president O.P. Dhankar over the phone for a comment, but did not get a response till the time of publication. This report will be updated if and when a response is received.
Brijendra Singh, along with his father and former Union minister Birender Singh, joined the BJP from the Congress party ahead of the 2014 Haryana election. In the past, they have been supportive of the farmers protesting against the three farm laws and have voiced their concerns about the handling of the protests.
The Singhs have also been openly challenging the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader and Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, who currently represents the Uchana assembly seat. Both the parties are eyeing Jind’s Uchana seat in the 2024 election, even as the BJP is in alliance with the JJP in the state.
Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij was the first prominent voice from the northern state to support the wrestlers. Earlier this month, he publicly expressed his support for the athletes who are protesting against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Vij offered to intervene and take the matter to higher authorities in order to seek a peaceful resolution.
Dhankar had also said that the agitating wrestlers are “daughters” of Haryana and that he has taken up their demands with Union sports minister Anurag Thakur. While Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had said the issue was not related to Haryana, his deputy Dushyant Chautala has demanded “strictest possible action” earlier.
Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his son Deepender have come out in support of the wrestlers in their protest against the WFI chief. The senior Congress leader had met the wrestlers in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on 25 April.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Also Read: Wrestlers pause plan to ‘immerse’ medals in Ganga, give govt 5-day ultimatum over WFI chief
Source: The Print
