Ramachandra Guha, Nisha Millet, Reeth Abraham and others stand in solidarity with protesting wrestlers

Sowmya Raju | NT

Bengaluru: Swimmer Nisha Millet and athlete Reeth Abraham, along with historian Ramachandra Guha and writers Amandeep Sandhu and Sharda Ugra, strongly criticised the mistreatment of women wrestlers protesting in Delhi. They gathered at a solidarity event in Freedom Park on Sunday, to demand justice for these wrestlers who have brought Olympic fame to our country.

Many concerned citizens, sports persons from Bengaluru, former sports journalist Joseph Hoover, and 18 civil society organizations also expressed support for India's national wrestlers who have been fighting against the sexual harassment of women athletes for almost a month at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

Over a hundred people gathered together chanting slogans demanding the arrest of MP and Wrestling Association president Brij Bhushan Singh, and showing their support for the wrestlers. Ramachandra Guha who joined in solidarity with the wrestlers said that they have been protesting for a genuine reason peacefully.

"Instead of protecting the wrestlers who brought laurels, the government is protecting the predators," he said. Reeth Abraham shared her gratitude for the people gathered there to support the wrestlers and said, “There are politicians involved in most associations and federations and they have a different goal. We don't want politicians to call the shots,” she said. Nisha Millet said, “This is such a slap in the face that girls who have won for the country are facing this. If this was junior wrestlers, nobody would even be talking about it.”

Talking about how athletes will not be quiet when they face injustice, she urged all women and girls to know and teach that sexual harassment “is not okay”. Joseph Hoover highlighted the contrast between the Prime Minister's grand celebrations of medal-winning athletes and the lack of action in protecting the female athletes who have also brought glory to the nation. He emphasised the need for immediate action, stating, "It is imperative that Brij Bhushan is held accountable and appropriate actions are taken against him."

Speaking to NewsTrail, Social activist Tara Krishnaswamy said, “This might be a small movement, but it is movements like these in different parts of the country that will push the government to bring justice for these wrestlers.”

She said that the whole point of democracy is the people and if people come together, the government will have no choice but to cave. The gathered citizens signed a resolution expressing their solidarity and demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan.