Wrestlers’ Protest: Sakshi Malik Sticks to Demand for Arrest of Brij Bhushan, Waits for Govt Response

NEW DELHI: Following a second round of talks with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, wrestlers on Wednesday reiterated that the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan was their main demand from the government.

Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had again extended an invite to the grapplers for talks on Wednesday.

A few hours after conclusion of the talks with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, following the invitation to the wrestlers for talks again on Wednesday, prominent grappler Sakshi Malik stated that they are not going to end their protest and are waiting in anticipation of a government’s offer to them.

“We are not ending our protest. We will see what proposal the government will offer to us. Our main demand is that Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan should be arrested,” top wrestler Sakshi Malik said.

The medal-winning wrestler further added, “We will discuss the proposal brought by the government with khap panchayat leaders if we like it. We will not accept any other proposal and will go through it.”

The other protesting wrestlers said that they were expecting word from the government on the time and place for an open meeting.

“We are waiting for the time and venue. We are hopeful that there will be some solution and we will push for an open meeting not behind closed doors,” they emphatically said.

On the heels of an “inconclusive” meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, the wrestlers were invited for a second round of talks with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday.

Minister Anurag Thakur tweeted an invitation to urge the wrestlers for another round of talks, while saying that the Centre was open to the idea of discussing the issues.

"The government is willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues. I have once again invited the wrestlers for the same," he said in the tweet.

However, the accused WFI head Brij Bhushan denied all of their allegations and refused to comment on the wrestlers’ meeting with the Union sports minister.

“I don't want to comment on the meeting of wrestlers with the sports minister,” Brij Bhushan said.

Wrestlers are not willing to end their protest against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, on the allegations of him sexually harassing women grapplers, which also included a minor. Based on their allegations, two FIRs have been lodged by Delhi Police against Brij Bhushan, with one lodged under the POCSO act.

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