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Dronacharya award-winning wrestling coach Mahavir Singh Phogat has threatened to return all his medals if justice is not delivered while also demanding the arrest of sidelined Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Since April 23, India's top grapplers including the Olympic medallist duo of Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat, have been sitting on a protest at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Since then, the Supreme Court has forced the Delhi Police to file an FIR against the BJP MP for the alleged sexual harassment of seven wrestlers, including a minor.
"I will return my medals if justice is not delivered in the case," Mahavir Phogat said.
"The kind of allegations he faces, action should be taken against him and he should be arrested," Mahavir Phogat, who had joined BJP over three years ago, said.
When asked if had spoken to the government or raised the matter with any of the prominent political parties, he said, "No there has been no talk so far."
The protesting wrestlers also threatened to return their medals and awards, including the Padma Shri, to the government after they were allegedly mistreated by the Delhi Police on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, several Khaps in Haryana have also come in support of the protesting athletes on Thursday.
Notably, Mahavir Phogat is the father of wrestlers Babita and Geeta Phogat, who was detained by the police along with her husband on Thursday when she tried to meet the protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar.
He is also the uncle of Vinesh, who has been at the forefront of the protest.
More recently, the apex court gave a verdict on May 4 to close the proceedings despite police vowing to launch a ‘completely independent and impartial investigation by a team led by a senior woman IPS officer. Supreme Court's decision came after ensuring adequate security for the seven complainants, including one minor.
Despite this verdict, the wrestlers have decided to go on with the protest until their demands are met. Notably, wrestlers have been sitting in protest since April 23, demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan.
"We respect the Supreme Court order, protest will continue. Supreme Court order is not a setback, it did what it could in this matter," Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik said.
The wrestlers also said that they will seek a future course of action after consulting their seniors. "We have all options open, will decide after consulting seniors," Vinesh Phogat said.
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(With PTI Inputs)
