A few months ago, the nation's capital saw a unique movement when female wrestlers, who raised the status of the sport nationwide, protested for justice and exposed the evil powers and sexual assault occurring within the wrestling organisation. BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh's sexual assaults shocked the world. Other sports persons also came forward demanding that he be removed from his position and brought before the law. Many have described the protest as a revolution that paved the way for changes in the electoral methods and organization of sports federations. As more peasant activists joined them, the social component of the struggle grew. Following intense pressure, the central government came to a settlement with the athletes and put a stop to the protest; however, now the outcomes of the wrestling federation elections show that they had been cheated. The public's already-dwindling trust in the safety of women in sports has been severely damaged by the Wrestling Federation's selection of BJP MP Brij Bhushan's nominees as office-bearers. Bhushan stands accused of sexual harassment.
Olympic medal winner Sakshi Malik broke down as she announced her retirement from wrestling. When Bajrang Punia's Padma Shri was left on the sidewalk in front of the Prime Minister's residence on Kartavya Path, the nation dropped its head in shame, but the ruling party remained unaffected. Vinesh Phogat has written to the Prime Minister that he will return the Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards. Even as the newly elected office-bearers were suspended by the Union Sports Ministry with the protests intensifying again, the BJP can never escape the blame for creating the predicament which forced the sports persons to return their greatest achievements. The assurance given by the Sports Minister that the Federation will make the elections transparent and initiate legal proceedings against Brij Bhushan has been violated. The Delhi Police under the control of Union Home Minister Amit Shah was never ready to take strict legal action against Bhushan. Despite three forms of chargeable statements, including a written complaint under the Code of Criminal Procedure and statements recorded by the Magistrate under Sections 161 and 164, the police chose not to take strict action against him in the best interests of the Centre. It required an order from the Supreme Court for a case to be filed against him, despite the fact that six female wrestlers had given testimonies alleging sexual assault. The BJP did not impose any organisational disciplinary action on him either despite these grave accusations. Brij Bhushan was able to easily win the Federation elections just as he bent the law with central support. It may be argued that the election held as per the instructions of the Supreme Court was technically free. But the defiance of Sanjay Singh who won as the new president and the arrogant antics of Brij Bhushan in front of the cameras as he flashed the victory sign with his fingers is enough to make it clear who won this election. "We dominated, we will continue to dominate" was the slogan raised at Brij Bhushan's residence.
There is not a single woman on the new committee, which is tasked with supporting the legal battle of female athletes. Former Commonwealth Games gold medalist Anita Sheoran got only seven votes! The centre has given a clear signal to the wrestlers through the federation elections that they are not willing to fight the accused. With this, it has become clear that the government has no interest in solving the problem of sportspersons in a fair way beyond the farcical techniques to quell the anger of the Jats in Haryana. Last day's meeting with BJP President JP Nadda was enough to boost Brij Bhushan's influence in the party. It sheds light on the real reasons why the state of sports of our country is so weak. This incident also underlines the fact that women's safety and women's empowerment are mere slogans for governments. Radical change requires broad campaigns to make sports institutions more democratic and transparent. It needs to consolidate and expand the spirit and power of the wrestlers' struggle at Jantar Mantar.