Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the outgoing President of the Wrestling Federation of India, who is currently on bail in connection with a sexual harassment case filed by women wrestlers, expressed condemnation for the recent incident in Manipur. Two women were subjected to a horrific ordeal of being paraded naked and sexually assaulted by a mob from the majority community on May 4, following ethnic clashes in Manipur. Singh called this incident “very sad” and stated that it was unfortunate to occur in Independent India. He acknowledged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken cognizance of the matter and made remarks about it.
In relation to the sexual harassment case registered by several wrestlers, Singh, a six-time BJP MP, mentioned that the situation had arisen due to a policy issue. Delhi Police had filed a chargesheet against Singh and the Wrestling Federation’s assistant secretary Vinod Tomar on June 15 based on complaints from women wrestlers. They were granted regular bail by a Delhi court, with each of them having to furnish a personal bail bond of Rs 25,000.
Singh also drew attention to incidents of assault against women in Rajasthan and West Bengal, pointing out that such issues were being reported in those states as well. He expressed concern over the tragic incidents of rape and murder, indicating that the authorities needed to address these issues seriously.
A six-time BJP MP Brij Bhushan said, “I had said in the beginning that this (wrestlers’ protest) is because of the policy. Now videos of the affected players are coming, they are going to court, so you can understand what was the reason (behind the protest), now it has come in front of the country. Things are becoming clear now.”
In Rajasthan, a 19-year-old girl’s body was found in a well after being allegedly raped and murdered. Additionally, in Jodhpur, four charred bodies were discovered in a hut, where the family members were murdered before the fire was set. In another incident, a 17-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly gang-raped by three college students in Jodhpur.
In West Bengal, a BJP worker from Howrah’s South Panchala claimed that she was dragged outside a polling booth during an election, and her clothes were ripped off by Trinamool Congress workers. She filed an FIR regarding the incident.
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s remarks come amid ongoing scrutiny and discussion on issues of safety and violence against women in the country.
“They (Trinamool Congress workers) dragged me outside the polling booth holding my hair and threw me down the stairs. They also ripped my clothes. Later, I went to a nearby house to borrow clothes to wear. Had my husband not been present there, they could have done anything to me. He saved me. I have filed an FIR in this incident,” the BJP worker said.