On Thursday, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat was asked to step down from the stage during a wrestlers’ protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) coaches and officials at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The incident, which was captured on video, went viral on the internet.
In the video, wrestler Bajrang Punia can be heard requesting Karat not to “politicize” the protest and to leave the platform. “Madam, I request you to please come down. Please don’t politicise the protest. This is the wrestler’s protest. Please get down from the stage,” Punia can be heard saying to the CPI (M) leader.
According to ANI, Brinda Karat was seen being insistent on getting to the podium and speaking. However, Bajrang Punia, who was speaking at the time, was alerted by other wrestlers about her presence. The Olympian then asked Brinda and others to get off and not to politicize the protests.
The wrestlers, including Olympians Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia, had levelled harassment allegations against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) officials and coaches on Wednesday and staged a sit-in protest against the national federation President’s dictatorship at Jantar Mantar. The protest was on its second day on Thursday.
The allegations of harassment and the call for the resignation of the WFI President have sparked a heated debate about the treatment of athletes and the need for transparency and accountability in sports organizations.
#WATCH | CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat asked to step down from the stage during wrestlers' protest against WFI at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/sw8WMTdjsk
— ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2023
The incident involving Brinda Karat highlights the sensitive nature of such protests and the importance of ensuring that they remain focused on the issues at hand and are not hijacked for political gain. It is crucial that the voices of the athletes are heard and that appropriate action is taken to address their concerns.
It is important to note that the protest is an ongoing issue, and the final outcome is yet to be seen. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has not made any official statement regarding the allegations of harassment and dictatorship, and it is important to wait for the official statement before jumping to any conclusions.
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