Back‘Shameful’: Neeraj Chopra, Vijender Singh, CM Kejriwal, NCP condemn Delhi Police ‘manhandling’ of protesting wrestlers
Chaotic scenes were witnessed at the protest site at Jantar Mantar as wrestlers and police officers shoved and pushed each other when Vinesh Phogat, her cousin sister Sangeeta Phogat and Sakshi Malik tried to breach the barricades.
PremiumPrime Minister Narendra Modi claimed that India shed its colonial past with the inauguration of a new Parliament building in national capital Delhi. However, while the new Parliament building was being inaugurated by PM Modi and Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, chaotic scenes emerged from outside where companies of Delhi Police detained protesting wrestlers, who were then reportedly taken to an ‘undisclosed location’.
Chaotic scenes were witnessed at the protest site at Jantar Mantar as wrestlers and police officers shoved and pushed each other when Vinesh Phogat, her cousin sister Sangeeta Phogat and Sakshi Malik tried to breach the barricades.
Vinesh provided a strong resistance against her detention and Sangeeta clung on to her cousin sister while lying on the road as the struggle continued for a few dramatic minutes.
The police officials dragged and lifted them into buses along with several other wresters and their supporters. The wrestlers were pushed into buses and taken to different unknown locations.
Top wrestlers, including the likes of Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, were detained for violation of law and order after they breached the security cordon while trying to move towards the new Parliament building for a planned women's 'Mahapanchayat'.
Here's how athletes, politicians reacted
"I am pained to see this. There has to be a better way to deal with this," the reigning Olympic champion in javelin throw, Neeraj Chopra, wrote in a response to a video Sakshi posted on Twitter.
In the video, Vinesh and Sangeeta are being pushed to the ground by police officials.
“Aaj meri bari hai kal teri hogi..numbar sabka aaya ga (It's my time today, tomorrow this shall be you)" tweeted boxer Vijender Singh.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condemned the police detention of wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar here on Sunday calling their act "grossly wrong." Kejriwal retweeted a video shared by Malik that showed wrestlers being dragged by police to a detention van after a lengthy scuffle.
"Such treatment to the sportsperson who brought laurels to the country is grossly wrong and condemnable," he wrote.
The Opposition Congress in Kerala on Sunday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP after the inauguration of the new Parliament building and said it was a "black day" for Indian democracy. The ruling CPI(M) also hit out at the Union government for creating a parallel history.
Nationalist Congress Party leader Supriya Sule condemned police action against protesting wrestlers in New Delhi on Sunday. "Did the Union Home Ministry grant permission to manhandle them? The Central government must provide unequivocal answers," tweeted Sule, who said she was deeply dismayed by the deplorable treatment of Olympic medallists and sportswomen.
"Strongly condemn the way Delhi Police manhandled Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and other wrestlers. It’s shameful our champions are treated in this manner," West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted.
“Democracy lies in tolerance but autocratic forces thrive on intolerance and quelling of dissent. I demand they be immediately released by police. I stand by our wrestlers."
Communist Party of India (Marxist) termed the police action as “shame on this Govt." "Delhi Police have detailed women wrestlers! Medal winning wrestlers bundled into buses and detained for fighting sexual harassment while man accused will be sitting in new parliament building. Shame!"
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday condemned the alleged manhandling of the protesting wrestlers by Delhi Police.
Soren also criticised the detention of the athletes and demanded their immediate release.
"On a day when the new Parliament building is dedicated to the nation, it’s distressing to witness such brutal & shameful manhandling of India’s most celebrated champion wrestlers, our national pride. Their crime - seeking justice through peaceful democratic protests. I strongly condemn their detention & demand their immediate release," he said.
Rajasthan Congress MLA and 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games discus throw gold medallist Krishna Poonia too condemned the police action.
"The most shameful video of Indian sports and democracy. I condemn the manner in which police dragged our gold medallist wrestlers who have brought laurels for our country and in this fight for truth and justice, I stand with my sisters," she tweeted.
TMC MLA and former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary said: “So, this is what you call #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav? Shame! The nation is with you #wrestlers!"
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