Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia on Monday said they will continue the fight for justice and asserted that none of the wrestlers have backed down from the protest and nor they will.
"This news is completely wrong. In the fight for justice, none of us has backed down, nor will we. Along with Satyagraha, I am fulfilling my responsibility in Railways. Our fight continues till justice is served. Please don't spread any wrong news," Malik tweeted after reports of her distancing from the protest emerged.
Even Bajrang tweeted in the same vein as his national teammate and termed reports of withdrawing the FIR as "completely false".
"The news of withdrawing the movement is just a rumour. Such news are being spread to harm us. We have neither retreated nor have we withdrawn the movement. The news of women wrestlers taking back the FIR is also false. The fight will continue till justice is served," said Bajrang.
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Bajrang, Sakshi along with fellow Olympian and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat have been protesting against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, demanding his arrest on allegations of sexual harassment charge against seven wrestlers, including one minor.
It must also be mentioned that all three India internationals have returned to work as Office on Special Duty (Northern Railways) since last week.
Vinesh hits out at those ‘spreading fake’ reports
Borrowing a verse from Urdu poet Abid Adeeb, Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat launched a broadside against those “spreading fake news” about the wrestlers’ protest, accusing them of “trembling” in front of a “goon”.
“Do those who spread fake news even realise the trauma that women wrestlers are going through? Weak media has legs that start trembling in front of a goon’s hunter, not a female wrestler,” Vinesh tweeted.
To conclude her tweet, Vinesh remembered these lines by Abid Adeeb, “Jahah pohonch ke kadam dagmagaye hain sab ke usi mukam se ab apna raasta hoga (Where everyone’s steps have wavered to reach, from the same place will now have its way).” In another tweet, Vinesh said people who had earlier demeaned the wrestlers’ Olympic and world championships medals by comparing their worth with money, were now after their jobs.
“Those who said our medals to be worth Rs 15 each are now after our jobs,” said Vinesh.
“Our life is at stake, a job is a very small thing in front of that. If the job is seen to be an obstacle in the way of justice, then we will not take even ten seconds to leave it. Do not blackmail us by threatening us with our jobs,” the World Championships bronze medallist added.
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