Wrestlers’ protest: DCW chief Swati Maliwal seeks Brij Bhushan’s arrest, accuses Delhi Police of being ‘partisan’

DCW chief Swati Maliwal on Sunday wrote to Delhi Police Commissioner seeking the arrest of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The development comes after the Delhi Police manhandled the protesting wrestlers, detained them, and took them to an undisclosed location, which was reported to be closer to Tikri Border.

Top wrestlers 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'.

Maliwal also demanded that the Delhi Police Commisioner immediately release the detained wrestlers and take actions against the Delhi Police officers who manhandled the Olympic level athletes.

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.

The champion wrestlers had resumed their agitation against former Wresting Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on April 23, demanding his arrest for alleged sexual harassment of several women grapplers, including a minor.

The police had warned the wrestlers not to move towards Parliament but they went ahead, leading to the scuffle.

Several opposition leaders also condemned the attack. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit out at the government, saying that the "arrogance" of the BJP government has increased so much that it is "mercilessly trampling" upon the voices of our women sportspersons under its boots.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condemned the police detention of wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar here on Sunday calling their act "grossly wrong."

West Bengal Chief minister Mamata Banerjee condemned Delhi Police for manhandling Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik. 

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!"