Cricket Legends in support of the wrestlers' protest

Cricket legends who made India proud with the 1983 World Cup win stand in support of the wrestlers' sexual harassment protest against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Olympic medal winners Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik and Commonwealth and Asian Games winner Vinesh Phogat along with many ace wrestlers amplified their agitation against Singh. Things took a worst turn when on 28th May Prime Minister Narendra Modi was inaugurating the new Parliament building and outside Delhi Police detained wrestlers during their march to the new Parliament building. Apparently, on the same day, the police had cleared out their month-long protest site at Jantar Mantar.

Wrestlers, many from Haryana gathered near Ganga banks in Haridwar and decided to immerse their medals on 30 May. They did not implement the plan after some significant farmer leaders intervened and told them to give the government a few days to take punitive action. Many farmers and more than 60 khaps from Haryana and western UP have decided to protest in support of these wrestlers and ensure justice for them. 

The 1983 team said in their press statement, "We are distressed and disturbed at the unseemly visuals of our champion wrestlers being manhandled. We are also most concerned that they are thinking of dumping their hard-earned medals into the river Ganga. Those medals have involved years of effort, sacrifice, determination and grit and are not only their own but India's pride and joy. We urge them not to take any hasty decision in this matter and also hope that their grievances are heard and resolved quickly. Let the law of the land prevail.”

Under the captaincy of Kapil Dev, had made history by defeating the mighty Clive Lloyd-led West Indies team in 1983 and gave India the first-ever World Cup cricket trophy. On 25th June 1983 the Indian cricket team that included Sunil Gavaskar, Yashpal Sharma, Madan Lal, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Mohinder Amarnath, K. Srikanth, Syed Kirmani, Sandeep Patil, Kirti Azad and Roger Binny.

Madan Lal expressed that it is heart-breaking that they decided to throw their medals. We aren’t in favour of them throwing their medals because earning medals isn’t easy and we urge the government to sort out this issue as soon as possible.”

Spinner Anil Kumble said in a tweet, “Dismayed to hear about what transpired on the 28th May with our wrestlers being manhandled. Anything can be resolved through proper dialogue. Hoping for a resolution at the earliest.”

The wrestling body chief, a BJP MP of Kaisarganj, denied any wrongdoing and said that he will hang himself if allegations against him were proven right. He wrote on Facebook, “tried to unite people of all castes, communities and religions while in power and opposition. These are the reasons my political opponents and their parties have falsely accused me”.