India's top wrestlers, who were sitting in protest against Wrestling Federation of India chief against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, said that their fight will now continue in the court and not on roads.
Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia posted identical tweets saying the government has fulfilled its promise of filing a chargesheet against Singh by the given date.
- Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) June 25, 2023
"Regarding the reform in WFI, the election process, as promised, has begun. We will wait for fulfilment of promises made by the government regarding the July 11 elections," the statement on Twitter read.
A few minutes after posting the statement, Vinesh and Sakshi stated that they will be taking a break from social media for a few days.
थोड़े दिन के लिये सोशल मीडिया से ब्रेक ले रही हूँ.. आप सबका धन्यवाद 🙏
- Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) June 25, 2023
On Saturday, in a live address on social media, the trio of Vinesh, Sakshi and Bajrang had attacked former wrestler and now BJP leader Yogeshwar Dutt for questioning the Indian Olympic Association's ad-hoc panel's decision to grant them exemption from Asian Games trials. In that near 40-minute address, the wrestlers had asserted that their fight against Singh will continue and they will deliberate how to continue this fight after evaluating the chargesheet filed against Singh.
"People are asking us why are we silent . The time [to suspend protest] was till June 15," Vinesh said. "This fight will continue, whether it is on the mat or off the mat, but the fight for justice will continue till Brij Bhushan is not put behind bars, he doesn't pay for his sins, it will continue. We are waiting for a copy of chargesheet. We will evaluate if it is strong enough for justice. Whether we will sit on road or put our lives at stake, we will decide. That's why we are silent. Our fight has not ended," she had said.
Wrestlers vs WFI: Timeline of protest from pavement sit-in to court petition
Vinesh also alleged that Dutt was targeting them because of his self interest.
"You (Dutt) had scared wrestlers that's why they did not come in the second protest (from April 23). You put pressure on them that they will lose their jobs. People told us that they were with us but they have compulsions that they can't come," Vinesh. "I will tell you why you are doing this. Brij Bhushan might have offered you the post of WFI President and that's why you have sided with him."
On Sunday, she also posted a letter on social media to prove that the six protesting wrestlers did not demand exemption from Asian Games trials and they sought only time till August for preparation.
After being removed from Jantar Mantar on May 28, the wrestlers had suspended their protest till June 15 after getting assurance from Sports Minister Anurag Thakur that a chargesheet will be filed against Singh by then and none of his family members will be allowed to contest WFI elections.
The wrestlers, who got massive support from farmer leaders, khap panchayats and several other organisation, sat on Jantar Mantar for 38 days before Delhi Police detained them on May 28.
They first came to Jantar Mantar on January 18 and suspended their three-day sit-in after Thakur promised to probe their allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation against 66-year-old Singh, who is a six-time BJP MP.