Sakshi Malik

I Quit Wrestling: Sakshi Malik

Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik, who was a face of wrestlers’ protest against former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations, on Thursday announced that she is quitting wrestling after his aide Sanjay Singh was elected president of the federation.

Sakshi Malik, distraught and emotional, broke down as she left the venue after addressing a press conference in the national capital.

She put her shoes on the table at the press conference as she announced her decision to quit wrestling.

“We slept for 40 days on the roads and a lot of people from several parts of the country came to support us. If Brij Bhushan Singh’s business partner and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, I quit wrestling,” she said, accompanied by some other wrestlers who were part of the protest.

“We have made demands for a woman president. If the president would be a woman, harassment would not happen. But, there was no participation of women earlier and today you can see the list, not even a single woman was given a position. We had fought with complete strength but this fight will continue. The wrestlers of the new generation have to fight,” she said.

Vinesh Phogat, World Championships and Asian Games medallist, also expressed her deep disappointment and said that the future of wrestling is dark and grapplers are still fighting.

“There are minimal expectations but we hope that we get justice. It’s saddening that the future of wrestling is in the dark. To whom shall we convey our grief?… We are still fighting while we are training,” she said.

Sanjay Singh was on Thursday elected as the new president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

The Wrestling Federation of India elections were held on Thursday after several postponements earlier in the year.

A panel led by Sanjay Singh won the WFI election. The other panel got seven votes.

“National Camps (for wrestling) will be organised. Wrestlers who want to do politics can do politics, those who want to do wrestling will do wrestling,” Singh told the reporters.

Sanjay Singh served on the WFI’s previous executive council. Since 2019, he has also served as the national federation’s joint secretary.

The WFI elections were originally slated to be held on August 12. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court, while holding a hearing on a petition in August, extended the stay on the WFI elections till September 25. Elections to the federation, which oversees wrestling in the country, were initially planned for June this year.

Earlier this month, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik met Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur at his residence in the national capital for discussions on the WFI polls.

Sakshi’s husband, Satyawart Kadian, a wrestler himself, was also among those who called on the minister. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the wrestlers said they were assured that the government would keep its promise that no one related or close to Brij Bhushan would get a post in the WFI. (ANI)

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Brij Bhushan

Checking Pulse Rate Is Not An Offence: Brij Bhushan

The counsel for Bharatiya Janata Party MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Monday argued that there is no basis for allegations levelled against the accused.

The counsel for the WFI chief also argued that Singh, an accused in the sexual harassment of women wrestlers case, only checked the pulse rate. “Without sexual intent checking pulse rate is not an offence,” he argued.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar have been charge-sheeted in a case of sexual harassment, lodged on the basis of complaints by six women wrestlers.

The Oversight Committee was not formed on the basis of any complaint. It was formed on the basis of tweets posted tagging the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Ministry of Home Affairs, the counsel argued.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate after hearing the part arguments listed the matter for further arguments on charge on October 19.

Advocate Rajiv Mohan appeared for the BJP MP and argued that on January 18, 2023, the first protest was started at Jantar Mantar and on January 19, one of the wrestlers Babita Phogat met the Union Sports Minister.

He further argued that on January 20, 2023, the Sports Ministry and Home Ministry were tagged. “Till this time no complaint was filed,” Advocate Rajiv Mohan said on behalf of Singh.

It was stated that on January 23 oversight committee was formed. “On the basis of the Government of India letter. The report was forwarded to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) New Delhi,” he said.

The defence counsel further argued that the Oversight Committee’s report is a part of the charge sheet and relies on documents.

Meaning thereby it is a relied-upon document. It was supplied to police in pursuance of notice by police, the counsel argued.

” Till its (oversight committee) formation, there were no written or oral allegations,” the counsel argued.

On the point of period of limitation advocate Rajiv Mohan submitted that there is a difference between offence molestation and sexual harassment.

He argued that the wrestlers were well aware of what is sexual harassment and that the offence of sexual harassment is punishable by a period of three years, which is time-barred after three years.

Therefore to suit their case, the allegations of molestation were added to the complaints. The offence of sexual harassment is punishable with imprisonment of five years, he added.

He also pointed out that the Oversight Committee exonerated the coaches against whom allegations were levelled.

Advocate Mohan further argued that the letter is on record, which shows that the Oversight Committee was formed by the GOI.

If I am not exonerated, then I am also not implicated in the report of the oversight committee, Advocate Rajiv Mohan pointed out.

He submitted that the foundation of the allegations is not based on any complaint.

“Since there was no complaint to the ministry or Sports Authority of India (SAI), therefore the committee proceeded on the basis of tweets,” he said.

Even after the formation of the committee no complaint was filed, he added.

It was also submitted that the complainants were summoned their statements were recorded and the proceedings were video recorded. Only two affidavits out of six complainants were filed before the committee.

On the point of breathing pattern checking, the accused’s counsel referred to the statement of one of the witnesses who stated she never saw him (accused) touching any girl in an inappropriate manner. “He used to check the pulse rate,” the accused’s counsel submitted.

“Pulse checking without sexual intent is not an offence,” he added.

On the point of alleged incidents at the WFI Office, the BJP MP submitted, “I never called anyone at my WFI office. The complainant came herself to confront me.”

As the complainant was not focusing on her game but more on tweets, he added.

Why should I have checked the breathing pattern without occasion? It was not an occasion at my office to check it. If I was intended to molest, then why should I have checked the breathing pattern by touching the stomach,” he added.

“There is no mention of a breath test in the affidavit given by a complainant, he added. However, it was mentioned in the complaints,” the counsel argued. (ANI)

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‘BJP Wants Credit For Reservation Bill But Shields Predators Like Brij Bhushan’

Madhurima Kundu, a student activist, says the passing of Women Reservation law is more political grandstanding than a genuine effort towards gender empowerment. Her Views

The Women’s Reservation Bill could have been brought up in the Monsoon Session (July 20, 2023 to 11 August, 2023). However, the BJP government wanted to make a spectacle of it to erase its murky track record of atrocities against women during the current regime.

The entire country has been witness to the dogged and peaceful protests by female wrestlers and world champions of India against ‘serial sexual harasser’, BJP MP, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and how he has been openly shielded by the BJP top brass. Besides, the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ programme of the government fell flat in front of many cases of violence against women where the violators have been reportedly members of the ruling dispensation and were apparently protected by them. That is why, in order to establish a commitment towards women, the government convened the Special Session for the Women’s Reservation Bill.

Narendra Modi has always been building a strong image for himself and his government. The image of marching towards the new Parliament building and the passing of the Women’s Reservation Bill, in the Special Session, was done to leave an imprint on public memory.

The Bill has been a long standing demand of progressive women’s organisations. The pomp and show with which this bill was tabled and passed in Parliament, does not really match with the caveat built within the Bill, with regard to its implementation. The implementation has been made contingent upon the decadal census and delimitation. It is the first time in the history of India that the decadal census has been delayed. We cannot even see the exercise of the census starting anytime soon. Indeed, the next delimitation will happen in 2026.

The enactment of the Bill will definitely not happen before that. However, given the BJP government and the RSS’s views about women, this Bill is just another sham, merely to gain the attention of women voters. Political empowerment of women is definitely not what the BJP-RSS stands for. The women’s movement across the country can only ensure the enactment of the Bill, not the mercy of any ruling regime.

We know how women’s reservation in our panchayats has been bypassed with the concept of ‘pradhan patis’ in many places. However, the reservation has definitely increased women’s participation as opposed to earlier. Certainly, reservation cannot be the sole solution to the question of empowerment. Effective policies to get more people, especially women from the margins, in every sphere — from education to employment — are required.

ALSO READ: ‘Reservation Bill Is First Step Towards Gender Equality’

The Common University Entrance Test, which is being conducted since the past two years, has actually led to a decline in the number of women students in colleges and universities. The fact is, the Modi government has brought out a bill supposedly for women’s empowerment, but so many policies are being brought in to actually exclude women.

If a sexual predator such as Brij Bhushan can be sitting in Parliament at the same time that the Women’s Reservation Bill is being tabled, women’s empowerment becomes a big question mark! Women’s Reservation Bill is a necessity, but not a sufficient condition for true liberation and empowerment of women.

Another issue with the Bill is the question of OBC reservation within women’s reservation. The truth is, the status of women from backward castes is not at par with women from upper castes. Thus, OBC reservation within this Bill was required, but has been completely ignored by the BJP government.

(The narrator is pursuing a PhD in Economics from the Centre for the Study of Regional Development (CSRD), School of Social Sciences (SSS), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She has been an active member of the All India Students Association (AISA) since 2014)

As told to Amit Sengupta

women wrestlers brij Bhushan

Court Grants Bail To Brij Bhushan, Imposes Conditions

A Delhi court on Thursday granted regular bail to outgoing Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and the Federation’s assistant secretary Vinod Tomar Singh in the sexual harassment case registered by several wrestlers.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal on Thursday while allowing the bail petition, directed accused persons to furnish a personal bail bond of Rs 25,000 each.
The Court also imposed several bail conditions that the accused shall directly or indirectly not induce the complainants or witnesses and shall not leave the country without the permission of the court.

He shall not leave the country without the permission of the court, the court said.

The next date of the hearing is July 28 for scrutiny of documents. The court, earlier in the day kept the order reserved after the conclusion of the arguments of all sides.

The Court had noted that the Delhi Police lawyer said that he is neither opposing nor supporting the bail application, his submission is only that the same shall be dealt with provision of law.

During the arguments, Advocate Harsh Vohra appeared for the complainants and stated that since Singh has political influence and was the head of the association of which these complainants are a part, therefore bail should not be granted to him.

If bail is granted it should be done so by imposing strict conditions and he should not approach the complainants.

Advocate Rajiv Mohan who appeared for Brij Bhushan submitted that, in a case where the prosecution doesn’t require custodial interrogation, an arrest is not mandatory.

Singh submitted that he will abide by all conditions and there was no threat to anyone. He said that he was ready to give an undertaking that no such incident will happen.

The Rouse Avenue Court on the last date of hearing had granted interim bail to the BJP MP Brij Bhushan and Vinod Tomar in sexual harassment case registered by several wrestlers.

Appearing for Delhi Police, Special Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava earlier submitted that, “We have not arrested the accused, we leave it to the court if they want to grant him bail but we are opposing bail… some conditions can be imposed on him that he does not influence the witnesses.”

The Delhi Police chargesheet filed against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar stated that both the accused are chargesheeted for trial ‘without arrest’ as they have complied with the directions under section 41A of CrPC by joining the investigation.

Results of digital/electronic devices and exhibits seized and deposited with the concerned forensic labs are yet to be received and shall be filed through supplementary police reports.

The analysis of requisitioned CDRs etc., as found appropriate for the purpose of prosecution shall also be submitted expeditiously, stated the Delhi Police in the chargesheet.

The present chargesheet has been prepared against the alleged accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar for the commission of an offence under sections 354/354A/354D of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) (Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh).

Accused Vinod Tomar aided/facilitated the commission of the crime. Accordingly, he is being forwarded for trial under sections 354/354A/109/506 of IPC.

Chargesheet further stated that based on the investigation so far, Brij Bhushan Singh was “liable to be prosecuted and punished for offences” of sexual harassment, molestation and stalking.

A 1599 pages chargesheet in the case, having statements of 44 witnesses and six statements were recorded under CrPC 164.

Delhi Police in the chargesheet also submitted several pictures including the picture clicked during the events.

Delhi Police chargesheet stated that based on the “investigation so far,” of the complaints by six top wrestlers, Singh was “liable to be prosecuted and punished for offences” of sexual harassment, molestation and stalking.

Chargesheet stated that witnesses in the matter have mentioned that they also saw the physically wrong gesture of the then WFI president.

Delhi Police had filed a chargesheet against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar on June 15.

This case was lodged on a complaint lodged by women wrestlers.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal issued summons to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar after taking cognizance of the chargesheet.

In the wrestlers’ matter, two FIRs were registered against Brij Bhushan Singh on the basis of the wrestlers’ complaints.

One was registered under POCSO Act and a cancellation report has been filed in the case of a minor wrestler. The second FIR was filed on the complaint of several wrestlers.

In Patiala House Court, Delhi Police filed Cancellation Report, citing a lack of evidence, on the POCSO matter.

Delhi Police on June 15 filed a report recommending the cancellation of the POCSO case against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Chief Brij Bhushan Sharana Singh.

This comes after the minor, who had accused the WFI chief of sexual harassment changed her statement. There was no collaborative evidence in the case, Delhi Police said.

In both matters, Delhi Police officials had said that in the FIR registered by the wrestlers, after completion of investigation, we are filing a chargesheet for the offences under sections 354, 354A, 354D IPC against accused Brijbhushan Sharan Singh and for offences under sections109/ 354/354A/506 IPC against accused Vinod Tomar before the Rouse Avenue Court, said Suman Nalwa, PRO, Delhi Police.

In the POCSO matter, after completion of the investigation, we have submitted a police report under section 173 Cr PC requesting for a cancellation of the case based upon statements of the complainant i.e., the father of the victim and the victim herself, added Delhi police. (ANI)

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Brij bhusan interim bill

Interim Bail To Brij Bhushan In Sexual Harassment Case

Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday granted interim bail to outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in the case of alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers.

The court also granted interim bail to Vinod Tomar, another accused in the case.
The hearing on regular bail of Brij Bhushan and Vinod Tomar will be held on July 20.

Interim bail has been granted to them till the next date of hearing. The court granted the two accused interim bail on a bail bond of Rs 25,000 each.

Delhi police had filed a charge sheet against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar on June 15. This case was registered on a complaint lodged by women wrestlers.

The chargesheet was been filed under sections 354, 354D, 345A & 506 (1) of IPC according to Special Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava.

Two FIRs were registered against Brij Bhushan Singh on the basis of the wrestlers’ complaints.

One was registered under the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and a cancellation report has been filed in the case of a minor wrestler. The second FIR was filed on the complaint of several wrestlers.

In Patiala House Court, Delhi Police filed a cancellation report, citing a lack of evidence, on the POCSO matter.

Delhi Police on June 15 filed a report recommending the cancellation of the POCSO case against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Chief Brij Bhushan Sharana Singh. This comes after the minor, who had accused the WFI chief of sexual harassment changed her statement. There was no collaborative evidence in the case, Delhi Police said.

In both matters, Delhi Police officials had said that in the FIR registered by the wrestlers, after completion of investigation, we are filing a chargesheet for the offences under sections 354, 354A, 354D IPC against accused Brijbhushan Sharan Singh and for offences under sections109/ 354/354A/506 IPC against accused Vinod Tomar before the Rouse Avenue Court, said Suman Nalwa, PRO, Delhi Police.

In the POCSO matter, after completion of the investigation, we have submitted a police report under section 173 Cr PC requesting for a cancellation of the case based upon statements of the complainant i.e., the father of the victim and the victim herself, added Delhi police. (ANI)

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Brij Bhushan

Let The Court Decide: Brij Bhushan After Wrestlers Withdraw Protest Against Him

Former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Monday said that the case of alleged sexual harassment against him is now in the court that will do its work.

“I do not want to comment on this as it is now under the court’s consideration. The matter is in the court, and the court will do its work,” Singh told ANI.
The remark came after the protesting wrestlers announced to withdraw their protest against him, stating that the government has fulfilled its promise of filing a chargesheet against Singh, a six-time BJP MP whom they have accused of sexual harassment.

Top wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, in identical tweets said that the fight will now be fought in court, not on the roads.

Malik took to Twitter on Sunday to state that the “battle will now be fought in court and not on roads till justice is delivered.”

“As per the talks held on June 7, the government has implemented our demands. The Delhi Police on June 15 had submitted before the court the chargesheet after conducting a probe into allegations of sexual harassment (against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh), on the basis of an FIR filed by six women wrestlers. Now, the fight will continue in court and not on roads till justice is delivered,” the tweet posted by the three top grapplers read.

They further said that they will wait for fresh WFI elections which are scheduled to take place on July 11 as promised by the government.

“The process for fresh Wrestling Federation of India election has begun. The polls are scheduled to be held on July 11 as promised by the government. We will wait for the implementation of the promise,” the wrestlers said.

Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat were leading protests against Singh over alleged sexual harassment since the beginning of this year.

Following their removal from their Jantar Mantar protest site on May 28, the grapplers had then suspended their protest until June 15 after being assured by Union sports minister Anurag Thakur that a chargesheet will be filed against the BJP MP Singh.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections have been postponed from July 6 to July 11, as per the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Members of the executive committee of WFI will be decided in the polls. The occupants of the post of president, one post of senior vice-president, four posts of vice president, one each position of secretary general and treasurer, two posts of joint secretary and five posts of an executive member will be decided, as per a letter from IOA.

The last date for receiving names for the electoral college was June 25 by 5:00 PM. Two nominations from each State/Union Territory will be made.

All state/UT wrestling federations will nominate two persons each of their respective associations, who are part of the executive body to form the electoral college for the election to elect the WFI’s executive committee, added the letter.

Preparation and display of the electoral college, circulation to affiliates and publishing of the same on websites of IOA/WFI will be done on June 28.

Submissions of nominations for election will be from June 29 to July 1 from 11 AM to 5 PM. The preparation and display of nominations received by returning officers will be done on July 3 by 1 PM.

“The scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on July 4 by 11 AM. The submission of the notice of withdrawal of candidates will be done between July 4 to July 7, till 5 PM. On July 8, a final list of candidates will be made by 11 AM,” the letter added.

Polling will be done on July 11 from 11 AM to 1:20 PM. The counting of votes will start from 1:30 PM and results will be declared on the same day. (ANI)

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Gauhati High Court WFI

Gauhati HC Stays WFI Elections

Gauhati High Court on Sunday stayed the Wrestling Federation of India elections, which were scheduled to be held on July 11.

The ruling came on a plea filed by the Assam Wrestling Federation, seeking a stay on the WFI elections.
The elections, which were initially scheduled to be held on July 6, were pushed back to July 11 earlier. The polling was to be conducted from 11 am to 1.20 pm.

The counting of votes was to start from 1.30 pm and the results were to be declared on the same day — July 11.

The polls were scheduled amid a protest by several prominent wrestlers, including Olympians Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat, seeking the arrest and removal of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, over allegations of sexual harassment.

The protest was launched near the iconic Jantar Mantar in the national capital at the start of this year.

Earlier, on June 13, the newly-appointed returning officer for WFI elections, Mahesh Mittal Kumar, released a statement announcing July 6 as the date for holding the polls to the country’s top wrestling body.

The process of filing nominations was to start from June 19.

“Whereas, the undersigned has been appointed as the Returning Officer by the Indian Olympic Association vide its letter No. IOA/I-28/2023/1350 dated 12th June 2023 for the purpose of conducting the election of the Executive Committee of the Wrestling Federation of India(WFI), which is an affiliate member of the Indian Olympic Association(IOA),” the statement by the office of the returning officer read.

The Indian Olympics Association (IOA) organised a three-member ad hoc committee in April as mandated by the Sports Ministry, and two members were named to oversee WFI’s day-to-day activities and pick wrestlers for international events in the interim.

Earlier, after a meeting with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, star Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia said he was assured that the probe by Delhi Police into the allegations against the WFI chief would be completed by June 15.

Delhi Police subsequently filed a chargesheet against the WFI chief, while recommending cancellation of the complaint filed by a minor wrestler, alleging sexual harassment. They sought a withdrawal of the case after the minor and her father retracted their earlier statements. (ANI)

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Centre’s Attitude Towards Harassment of Women is Primitive and Despicable

Nearly five months. That is how long it took for a minister of the government of India to finally take note of the protests by women wrestlers and meet them, many of them Olympians and national-level champions, against alleged sexual harassment by the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The women wrestlers have accused the 66-year-old Singh, of groping, touching the breasts and navels without consent and demanding sexual favours from women wrestlers during his ongoing stint as the boss of the federation.

The wrestlers, who were supported by many of their male peers in the sport (but also conspicuously not supported by many Indian sportspersons, including women athletes such as the sprint champion P.T. Usha) took to the streets with their protests, assembling at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for the first time in January this year. After they were assured that a committee formed by the government would look into it, the protests were called off. But in April, after the committee submitted its report, the protestors felt it was biased and favoured the accused and they resumed the protests.

The protests soon turned political with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ostensibly supporting the accused who, incidentally, is a member of the party and an MP with considerable clout, facing off against most of the leading opposition parties. Police tried to forcibly remove the protestors from the venue of the protests and in the skirmishes many leading athletes were subjected to violence.

Singh has all along denied the charges and a police FIR filed by his accusers has till now basically led nowhere. Last week, after nearly five months since the accusations were made, a government minister finally met the protestors and assured them that a swift probe would be undertaken. On that assurance, the wrestlers have called off their protests for now.

The thing is India’s attitude towards sexual harassment is very primitive. During the years that the #MeToo movement gathered momentum throughout the world, and charges against leading personalities in entertainment, media, politics, and many other fields led to either their downfall or prosecution, or both, in India also there were a spurt of allegations against noted celebrities, politicians, editors, and others. Almost all of those who were then accused of sexual harassment have remained unscathed. Many of them are back in business and continue to hog the media limelight quite shamelessly. If Brij Bhushan Singh, a grandfather accused of groping young athletes, goes scot free, do not be surprised.

Will Nitish be the one to bell the cat?

Nitish Kumar, chief minister of Bihar, is an astute politician. He is also wily and opportunistic. He has never been averse to switching sides to suit his political ambitions. Those who have followed his moves have seen him ally with the BJP when it suits him; and then ditch that alliance when it doesn’t. Like many powerful regional leaders, Kumar, 72, has long harboured ambitions of becoming the prime minister of India. Now, he his putting together his plans to try and achieve those dreams.

A few weeks back, Kumar proposed a joint opposition strategy to challenge the BJP at the Centre in next year’s parliamentary elections. The idea was to have a convenor (read: Nitish Kumar, of course) who would rally the leaders of the main opposition parties to join hands and form a coalition that would together  field one strong candidate, irrespective of which constituent of the coalition he or she represented, against the BJP candidate in each parliamentary constituency. So, in each constituency that had a BJP candidate contesting, the coalition would choose one candidate who was best suited to defeat the BJP contender.

Some opposition leaders seem to be buying into the idea. Later this month, at a meeting convened by Kumar in Patna, several opposition leaders are scheduled to meet. According to reports, those who have confirmed include Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Delhi.

India’s national level politics is littered with the remains of unsuccessful coalition governments: they usually start with promise but end with acrimonious bickering, which is, as you might have already guessed, all over power, position, and pelf. It would be interesting to see whether Kumar’s proposal, which would require parties to swallow their pride and support their rivals in each parliamentary constituency, does actually take off.

The hoopla over the Miss World contest is so anachronistic

Newspapers in India have been gushing about India’s chance to host the Miss World finals once again after 27 years. Miss World is one of the oldest international beauty pageants, created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951 Since Morley’s death in 2000, his widow, Julia Morley, co-chairs the pageant. The pageant has grown into one of the world’s biggest and has raised more than £1 billion for children’s charities that help disabled and underprivileged children.

But, the competition, open to women from all over the world who are between the ages of 16 and 27, is said to be one where contestants are judged on their beauty, talent and intelligence, in reality it is a regressive objectification of women.

If India took the lead to initiate, say, a competition that was gender neutral and judged young contestants on the basis of their personalities and intelligence regardless of their gender then that could have been a more thought-provoking headline rather than the swooning excitement that media have been exuding about this year’s Miss World contest, which will once again judge women as objects.

Russia-Ukraine war continues…

The Nova Kakhovka dam on Ukraine’s Dnieper river collapsed on Tuesday, flooding villages, endangering crops and threatening drinking water supplies as both sides in the war scrambled to evacuate residents and blamed each other for the destruction. Ukraine accused Russia of blowing up the dam, which is in an area that Russia has been controlling since the early days of the ongoing war. Russia has, however, denied the accusations and blamed Ukraine for bombing the area.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has ratcheted up its counter-offensive against Russia to recapture territory that it has lost. The attacks have been small thus far but a larger offensive is expected soon.

14-year-old to work at Elon Musk’s Space-X

And now for some good news… A 14-year-old boy has been hired as a software engineer by Elon Musk’s Space-X, the satellite communications and spacecraft manufacturer. Quazi, who is set to graduate from the Santa Clara University School of Engineering this month, is the youngest hire by Space-X.  He has demonstrated exceptional verbal skills from a young age and has an extraordinary aptitude for learning. Kairan has IQ certifications from Davidson Institute Young Scholar, Mensa, Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, and others.

Sakshi Malik WFI

Will Take Part In Asian Games Only If Harassment Issue Resolved: Sakshi

Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik, who has been part of the protest against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations, on Saturday said that protesting wrestlers will participate in the Asian Games only after their “issues get resolved”.

“We will participate in Asian Games only when all these issues will be resolved. You can’t understand what we’re going through mentally each day,” Sakshi Malik said at the Mahapanchayat held today in Sonipat, Haryana.
Asian Games 2023 will take place in the coming September in China, however, wrestlers’ withdrawal from the tournament can heavily affect India, as Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat were the gold medallist in the last Asian Games 2018.

Earlier this morning, Olympian Bajrang Punia said that they will put forward their discussions with the government before the people supporting them during the Mahapanchayat.

“Whatever talks we had with the government, we will discuss that with the people who are supporting and standing with us…,” Punia told ANI.

Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had said on Thursday that the talks with protesting wrestlers were positive and decisions were taken on various demands.

“It was a very positive discussion with the agitating wrestlers. All the issues that came from their side were discussed seriously. We have said that the chargesheet will be filed by June 15 and the Wrestling Federation of India’s elections will be held by June 30. For the players, the Internal Complaint Committee will be formed and a woman player or an official will be made its chairperson,” Thakur told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.

He said that the names of two coaches have also been proposed by wrestlers for the ad-hoc committee of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). “They will be made its members,” he said.

Thakur said that the wrestlers conveyed that they will apprise their supporters about the talks.

“We also want the players to return to the mat soon and participate in competitions ahead,” he said.

The wrestlers had met Anurag Thakur on Wednesday following a fresh offer by the government for talks.

Delhi Police is conducting a probe into the sexual harassment allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a BJP MP, following the registration of the FIR. (ANI)

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Olympians Aren't Safe From Sexual Predators

‘When Olympians Aren’t Safe From Sexual Predators, Consider The Fate Of Poor Women’

Based in Village Surma in the core area of Dudhwa National Park near Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh and the Nepal border, Sahwaniya Rana says Brij Bhushans of the country must be sent behind bars

Absolutely wrong! What is happening to our great world champion women wrestlers is shameful and outrageous. These are the young women who have made the nation proud in the entire world. What is happening to them is extremely dangerous and diabolical and should be resisted by all women, and all citizens of India.

Where have they been able to bachao the betis of India? Instead, they are brazenly destroying the betis of India. That man (Brij Bhushan Saran Singh) should be arrested immediately, and he should be punished for his misdeeds while holding a position of power. This is simply not acceptable.

I am certain that all the women and girls of India fervently want that the Wrestling Federation chief should be arrested and punished. If he is not arrested, it is a direct attack on Indian womanhood and their dignity. It is an attack on the women’s fundamental rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution. If this ghastly state of affairs goes on, what will happen to us — to Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims and the poor?  They will then kidnap women from the streets, as in old times. They will get away with murder.

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Indeed, do they want to get rid of the Brij Bhushans from our society, or, do they want to make many more ugly replicas of him? Do they want to make him a role model? This is sick. They are dragging the country 200 years back!

Anyway, there is little or no justice for women in this male-centric society and politics. We are often treated like garbage. We are oppressed, and exploited. Even the women leaders in the BJP are mum. Is it not heartbreaking that they are dragged on the streets, beaten up, arrested, and then fake charges are put against them — against these great achievers, who are the actual role models of our society for millions of girls and women? Is it not heartbreaking that they choose to immerse their proud Olympics and international medals into the Ganga, tears flowing from their eyes. Looking at them, tears flow from our eyes too, and anger swells up in our hearts!

All the Tharu adivasis and women are standing up in support of our women wrestlers. Our heart goes out to them. While we fight a difficult, peaceful and protracted battle to reclaim our ancient forests, and while are fighting for the implementation of the constitutionally guaranteed Forest Rights Act enacted by the Parliament, we should also join our sisters, our wrestlers, and fight this shameful, cruel and arrogant regime. This is a dangerous trend they are setting. All women in India should stand up and fight for the rights of Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and all our women wrestlers.

(The narrator is a leader of the Tharu Adivasi Mahila Mazdoor Kisan Manch, leading the people of 46 villages in dense forests. She travels across the country in solidarity with other Adivasi and forest-dwellers, helping them in their struggles. She has participated at several international forums.)

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As told to Amit Sengupta