Humble Homage to Indian Sports😌
It is very unfortunate & painful to see the way our beloved sportsmen treated on the same day the nation got a new Parliament. The wrestlers, boys and girls who made India proud by winning medals in the Olympics, finally have to see such a day! NDTV.com says the case was filed against the protesting wrestlers and followers hours after the protesters were detained by the Delhi Police as they tried to march towards the new Parliament. The Delhi Police have filed cases against protesting wrestlers, accusing them of rioting, hours after visuals of its personnel manhandling Olympians and Commonwealth Games champions in the national capital shocked the country. The wrestlers have been accused of rioting, unlawful assembly, and obstructing public servants from doing their duty.
“Angry reactions are pouring from everywhere. The real power players hardly have time to pay attention to these meager events where pride of Indian sports knocked down and rolled over on the street in dirt. The real players were engaged in coronating themselves in imaginary power transfer. From whom and for whom, only they can answer”.
At that time, power was transferred from Great Briton to India. This time? There is no mention of ‘sengol’- ( Sceptre) being given to Governor Mountbatten in news coverage of that time. As per Union Home Minister Amit Shah, an article by S.Gurumurthy in ‘Thuglak’ magazine on May 5,2021, mentioned ‘Sengol’ given to Governor Mountbatten Importantly, none of the evidence presented said the sceptre was first symbolically given to Mountbatten and taken back before being presented to Nehru, symbolising the power transfer. The Hindu informs about an article that appeared in Thuglak magazine, written by its editor S. Gurumurthy in 2021. The article records everything the government has said as the version shared by Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi, the 68th head of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Pitam, from his memory to a disciple in 1978. (The words, ‘from memory’ are important as they indicate the absence of printed proof)
No doubt it (Sengol) is a thing of pride for every Indian as it reminds the rulers to be ramrod straight in guarding the truth and impartial in the rule. It has acquired its lost place besides the seat of Speaker of the Parliament, and the common citizen of this country is very happy and proud about it. But the doubtful mind asks if such an illusive and time obscured thing can be restored within two months of search, why the authorities concerned with the issue of wrestlers kept silent for such a long time testing and inciting the suffering wrestlers who brought prestige to India? If there is any other side to this wrestlers protest, some vested interests or some hidden motives by anybody, why is no light thrown on it by the always battle ready battery of eloquent speakers of the ruling party?
It is not easy to express the exact feelings about this stunning experience. It is better to follow what the nation’s collective consciousness says about it . Here are some twitts on this shameful event. Names of the comment makers are not mentioned as the reactions are spontaneous and numerous. If you want to read detailed reactions, please follow #wrestlersprotest on twitter.com
“This is Sakshi malik. Olympics medalist, Padmashri & Khel Ratna awardee. This is how she was dragged on the streets of Delhi today.
“Hang us if it is our crime to bring medals to the country by toiling sweat and blood.”
“I watched on as a bystander for many days, thinking this will end. But this image has killed me inside. these are India’s daughters, who stood on podiums and waved our flag proudly, now being dragged on the floor with the same flag.
Sucheta Dalal twitted, “Are people hanging their heads in shame or claiming this is political? The only politics is that of the ruling party and its arrogance!
Rashtriya Lok Dal twitted, “Instead of arresting Brijbhushan Singh Delhi police is arresting peacefully protesting wrestlers and their followers.”
NSUI twitted, “Coronation is completed – ‘Egoist King’ crushing people’s voices on streets.”
“An image of embarrassed and ashamed democracy.”
“This is how our champions are being treated. The world is watching us!”
” Whoever wants to join this fight for justice to our daughters and sisters would come. Presently, this is the sight at Jantar Mantar of Delhi.”
“Will the new Parliament listen to the citizen”
“And this man Modi is giving lecture, India is a “Mother of Democracy”, inside the Parliament. But outside, his men are assaulting the protesting ‘Daughters of India’.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi quoted in Hindustan Times, said that the government shames itself. Sharing a picture of top Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat resisting her detention and clinging on to her sister Sangeeta lying on the road, the Sena MP said that while “India’s daughters are fighting for their honor, the MP ( Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh) is continuing to be protected.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also calls the action wrong and condemnable and as a sad day for Indian sports. Meanwhile, Delhi police take away tents by wrestlers at Jantar Mantar.
The wrestlers were protesting by sitting, sleeping on Delhi Street in make shift tents without any amenities. Their demand for FIR against Brij Bhushan Singh, president Wrestling Federation of India, was accepted after a long testing time. He was accused of harassment and sexual misconduct with female wrestlers, including a minor. Brij Bhushan Singh is a member of Parliament from Kaiserganj constituency of Uttar Pradesh. India Today reported that he is booked under POCSO – Protection of Children from Sexual Offense Act after a minor wrestler leveled sexual harassment allegations against him. Brij Bhushan Singh (afterward) alleged that the law is being ‘misused on a large scale’ and said, “we will force the government to change” it. He made the comments on Thursday at a meeting in Uttar Pradesh regarding preparations for a rally of seers called by him in Ayodhya on June 5.
“The law is being misused against children, the elderly and seers. Even officials are not immune to its misuse, “he claimed. “Under the leadership of seers, we will force the government to change the POCSO law.” He was quoted by news agency PTI as saying. Regarding June 5 Ayodhya rally, he claimed 11 lakh seers would participate in the gathering. All activities of wrestling Federation have been canceled by the Sports Ministry till the probe into the sexual harassment allegations of the wrestlers against WFI chief is completed.
Politicians across the country and many prominent people from all walks expressed their support to the wrestlers. Yog guru Ramdev said, “The allegations of harassment leveled at the Wrestling Federation chief and for the wrestlers of the country to sit in protest at the Jantar Mantar is extremely shameful. Such people should be immediately arrested and put behind bars; he spews nonsense every day about mothers, sisters, and daughters. This is an extremely condemnable evil act, a sin.”
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