Protest Across India Marks One Month of Wrestlers Protest
Marking one month of protest by the Wrestlers demanding gender justice, a candle-light march was organised in Delhi from Jantar Mantar to India Gate on Tuesday, May 23. The march witnessed thousands of people, including members of CPIML, AICCTU, AISA, AIPWA and AIKM joining the spirited procession calling for action against the BJP MP and WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for sexual harassment.
As the march reached India Gate, the area reverberated with calls and slogans saluting the courageous struggle for gender justice by the Wrestlers. The wrestlers, thanking those who joined the march noted that this battle for gender justice is battle for the future of India.
Despite the wrestlers raising their voice against the issue of sexual harassment for months, shamefully there had been no response from the Modi government. Instead, the BJP government and the Delhi police continues to provide impunity and protection to Brij Bhushan. Also pertinent is that one of the seven complainants is a minor and hence one of the two FIRs has been filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and yet Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is roaming free, holding press conferences to threaten the wrestlers.
Expressing solidarity with the struggle, CPIML General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya in a statement noted “Does the Modi government think it could tire out the protesting wrestlers? The farmers' movement proved the government wrong, it's now the turn of the protesting wrestlers. The support for the wrestlers at the candle light vigil held today after a month of protest dharna, not just in Delhi but in many places across the country, ignited memories of a series of major agitations - from the anti-rape anti-corruption movement a decade ago in Delhi to the more recent anti-CAA protests and the year-long farmers' movement at Delhi border.”
CPIML GS added that the Wrestlers know how to pin their opponents down. With the support of the broader justice-loving people, the movement will surely trump the mafia MP and his protector government.Candle-light marches and demonstrations in solidarity with the wrestlers struggle were also organised in different states across the country.
