Wrestlers'protest: Left leader Brinda Karat asked to leave stage

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat wanted to joine the wrestlers' protest in Delhi on Thursday but was asked to leave the stage by Olympian Bajrang Punia. Karat was requested to leave the stage at Delhi's Jantar Mantar where prominent wrestlers have continued their sit-in protest, demanding action against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and other officials against alleged sexual exploitation of several athletes.

#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

Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik, world champion Sarita Mor, Sangeeta Phogat, Anshu Malik, Sonam Malik, Satyawart Malik, Jitender Kinha, Amit Dhankar and CWG medallist Sumit Malik were among 30 wrestlers who assembled at the famous protest site  on a silent protest at Jantar Mantar for the second day.. The wrestlers have also alleged that several coaches at the national camp in Lucknow have exploited women wrestlers, prompting the government to constitute a three-member committee to probe the allegations.

Meanwhile, champion wrestler and BJP leader Babita Phogat on Thursday arrived at the protest site and assured the players that the government is with them. "I will try that their issues are resolved today," Babita Phogat said after addressing the gathering. Brij Bhushan - a Lok Sabha MP from the BJP, rejected the allegations and said the wrestlers, who made allegations, should have approached the federation with their names earlier.