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