Protesting Wrestlers Pen Open Letter To BJP Women MPs Seeking Help

As the top wrestlers of the country continue their fight against wrestling federation president, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, they wrote a letter to Union ministers Smriti Irani and Nirmala Sitharaman, along with 41 other women leaders of the BJP, seeking support and justice.

“We, the women wrestlers of India, have been sexually assaulted by the president of the Wrestlers’ Federation of India. During his long period of presidency of the federation, wrestlers have been sexually assaulted many times by him. Sometimes, wrestlers tried to raise their voices but his power ruined the wrestlers’ future, forget about justice. Now as the water is above the nose, we don’t have any way left other than to fight for the dignity of the women wrestlers,” the letter read, according to a report by India Today.

At a press conference, wrestler Vinesh Phogat said that since none of the ruling party’s women parliamentarians have expressed grievances after 22 days of protests, grapplers have written an open letter to the women MPs to extend their support.

VIDEO | "No woman BJP parliamentarian has come to talk to us yet, which is why we have planned to write to the woman BJP leaders urging them to hear us out," says protesting wrestler Vinesh Phogat. pic.twitter.com/DWgdvzaCrA
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 14, 2023

"When you talk about the safety of women in this country and helping them fight for their dignity, then we are also your daughters, and we are also fighting for the same dignity,” Vinesh said at the press conference at Jantar Mantar.

The wrestlers further stated in their letter that they have a lot of hope from the women MPs and urged them to extend their support. "Being women Members of Parliament of the ruling party, we have a lot of hope from you and request you to help us. Please become our voice and save our dignity. We also hope that you can spare some time to reach Jantar Mantar to guide us,” the letter further read, according to the India Today report.

The wrestlers have accused Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan of sexual exploitation of several women wrestlers over a period of time and have demanded his removal.

Vinesh Phogat, the world championship medallist, had earlier hinted that the protest may become bigger if their demands are not met.