India: Protesting Wrestlers Demand WFI Chief's Arrest

Facts

• On Sunday, Indian wrestlers staged a sit-in protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to listen to their grievances and initiate a probe against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.¹
• Olympians Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, as well as Commonwealth and Asian Games medalist Vinesh Phogat, are among a dozen wrestlers who have been protesting in New Delhi since April 23. The demonstrations were prompted by allegations that several female athletes, including a minor, faced harassment at the hands of Singh in national camps between 2012 and 2022.²
• The Delhi Police registered two cases against Singh after the Supreme Court said the wrestlers' allegations were "serious," and directed officials to provide security to the one alleged victim who is currently under-18.³
• Despite the police action, wrestlers have said that protests will continue until Singh is arrested, as they "don't have faith in Delhi Police."⁴
• Accusing opposition parties of trying to tarnish his reputation, Singh has said he would step down from his post only after proving his innocence and not "as a criminal."⁵
• Singh, who has remained the WFI's chief since 2011, is a six-time Member of Parliament from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh and is reportedly indispensable to Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, especially ahead of the 2024 general elections.⁶

Sources: ¹India Today, ²The Indian Express, ³Mint, ⁴NDTV, ⁵Firstpost, and ⁶The Print.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by The Times of India. These sit-in protests by India’s most decorated wrestling stars are tarnishing the country’s image. Before going public and hitting the streets with their demands, they should’ve discussed their issues with the Indian Olympic Association. Instead, they gave their protest a political color as, despite initially asking political parties to stay out of this controversy, they have now come to welcome them. As their statements turn partisan, these demonstrations can only damage Indian society.
• Narrative B, as provided by The Indian Express. Shocking allegations of sexual harassment against the WFI chief have once again pointed to the dirty underbelly of Indian sport. The dangerous combination of political nexus and male domination that defines sport in India is compounded by the blatant misuse of official positions, as well as the exploitation of muscle power by the accused to intimidate and silence the victims. No wonder a well-oiled, organized vilification campaign has been launched to discredit the champion wrestlers.

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