'Must support...': Mamata Banerjee on wrestlers' protest, aims jab at BJP

Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday joined a growing chorus of voices in supporting wrestlers alleging sexual harassment by national federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, calling the athletes 'the pride of our nation' and demanding justice for them.

The Trinamool Congress national chairperson also called on the nation to join the protesting wrestlers and ensure 'the guilty (are) brought to book... irrespective of their political affiliation'; the last bit was a jab at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party because Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is a BJP Lok Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh's Kaiserganj constituency.

"We must all stand with the wrestlers who are protesting. They are speaking in one voice. Our sportspersons are the pride of our nation. They are champions. The guilty must be brought to book, irrespective of political affiliation. Justice must prevail. Truth must win," the Bengal chief minister tweeted.

Mamata Banerjee is the latest opposition political leader to rally behind the wrestlers, who have accused Brij Bhushan Singh of sexual harassment and also of trying to buy them with money or use force to silence accusations.

Ex-Haryana chief minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda has offered support, as have some farmers' organisations and 'khap' panchayats.

READ | 'Abhi kya ho gaya?': Wrestler Vinesh Phogat questions cricketers' silence

Support has also come from other fields, including Bollywood and other athletes; Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra said he was 'hurt' to see his colleagues forced to stage public protests. India cricket captain Kapil Dev has also signalled his support, as have actor Swara Bhasker and singer Sonu Sood.

Fresh round of protests

The wrestlers' protest and allegations re-erupted this week three months after the original sit-in led by Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat.

They have accused the government of failing to act on their concerns and have pointed to Brij Bhushan remaining in charge of the national wrestling body.

The government responded Thursday via sports minister Anurag Thakur, who claimed he had spent 12 hours with the protesting wrestlers to understand their problems. That claim was embarrassingly shot down by Punia, who said Thakur 'sat for two-four minutes with the players… his officials were mediating…"

READ | 'Spent 12 hours with wrestlers' says minister; gets 'not 12 minutes' reply

On Tuesday a Supreme Court bench led by chief justice DY Chandrachud asked Delhi Police to file a reply to the wrestlers' plea and listed the matter for Friday.

The court acknowledged the serious nature of the wrestlers' allegation.

READ | Supreme Court to hear wrestlers' plea against WFI's Brij Bhushan

Brij Bhushan, meanwhile, has released a defiant statement, declaring he will 'embrace death the day I feel helpless… (and) no longer have strength to fight'.

The PT Usha controversy

Comments by Indian track-and-field icon PT Usha, who is also chief of the country's Olympic Association and a BJP-nominated MP, have triggered a fresh row after she accused the protesting wrestlers of ‘tarnishing India’s image'.

READ | PT Usha says wrestlers 'tarnishing India's image'. Punia responds

That comment led to a round of counterattacks by opposition lawmakers, with Priyanka Chaturvedi of the Shiv Sena (ex-Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray's faction) and the Trinamool's Mahua Moitra leading the charge.

READ | 'Sorry ma'am…': Mahua Moitra, Priyanka Chaturvedi slams PT Usha