After a scuffle broke out at Jantar Mantar late in the night on May 3 (Wednesday) at the wrestlers' protest site, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia on Thursday (May 4) offered to return their medals and awards to the government as they are being harassed and subjected to humiliation.
"If this is how the wrestlers will be treated, what will we do with the medals? Rather we will live a normal life and return all the medals and awards to the Indian Government," Bajrang, an Olympic bronze medallist, told reporters on Thursday morning.
"When police is pushing us, abusing us, misbehaving then they don't see that we are Padma Shri awardee, and not only me, there is Sakshi (Malik) also," he said referring to the Rio Olympics bronze medallist.
"They are misbehaving with us. Women and daughters are sitting on the streets, begging for kindness but no one is bothered about getting justice," he added
Wrestlers have been protesting at Jantar Mantar for over a week demanding action against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Singh for sexually harassing a female wrestler.
"Take it (medals) all away. We have been humiliated so much. We are fighting for our respect but we are being crushing under their feet. Does all men have the right to abuse women?," said Vinesh, who is Khel Ratna awardee.
The wrestlers alleged that the police abused them physically as they tried to bring a bed to sleep due to wet conditions at the protest site. Vinesh Phogat alleged that a drunken policeman hit her brother Dushyant on the head. Also, she alleged that the police officer manhandled her and Sangeeta Phogat.
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