New Delhi: Olympic medal-winning wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia claimed on Monday that people who had previously dishonoured their medals are now after their professional careers.
Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia stated that their lives are at stake and they are willing to quit their jobs if they believe it to be an obstacle in the way of justice.
The wrestlers have been protesting against Brij Bhushan Singh, chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), over sexual harassment complaints.
Phogat and Punia tweeted, saying, “Those who told us our medals were worth Rs 15 each are now after our jobs. Our lives are at stake, and a job is a very small thing in front of that. If the job is seen as an obstacle in the way of justice, then we will not take even ten seconds to leave it. Do not show fear of a job.”
Sakshee Malik on Monday denied reports of her along with Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia withdrawing from the wrestlers’ protest.
Sakshee said that she and the other two wrestlers have resumed their respective jobs, but have not withdrawn from the protest.
She clarified this on Twitter after multiple reports claimed that Phogat, Punia and Sakshee on Monday withdrew from the wrestlers’ protest in order to join back their respective jobs.
ये खबर बिलकुल ग़लत है। इंसाफ़ की लड़ाई में ना हम में से कोई पीछे हटा है, ना हटेगा। सत्याग्रह के साथ साथ रेलवे में अपनी ज़िम्मेदारी को साथ निभा रही हूँ। इंसाफ़ मिलने तक हमारी लड़ाई जारी है। कृपया कोई ग़लत खबर ना चलाई जाए। pic.twitter.com/FWYhnqlinC
— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) June 5, 2023
Meanwhile, Bajrang Punia took to Twitter and said, “The news of withdrawing the movement is just a rumour. These news are being spread to harm us. We have neither retreated nor have we withdrawn the movement. The news of women wrestlers raising FIR is also false. The fight will continue till justice is served.”
आंदोलन वापस लेने की खबरें कोरी अफ़वाह हैं. ये खबरें हमें नुक़सान पहुँचाने के लिए फैलाई जा रही हैं.
हम न पीछे हटे हैं और न ही हमने आंदोलन वापस लिया है. महिला पहलवानों की एफ़आईआर उठाने की खबर भी झूठी है.
इंसाफ़ मिलने तक लड़ाई जारी रहेगी 🙏🏼 #WrestlerProtest pic.twitter.com/utShj583VZ
— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) June 5, 2023
Sakshee along with Punia and Phogat had met Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday at his residence to discuss the matter related to their protest against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief.
(More to follow…)
