Elusive justice, silenced voices

In a shocking turn of events, the allegations of sexual harassment made by India’s top wrestlers against the incumbent president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, have exposed a disheartening lack of justice and solidarity.

Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia, among others, have accused Singh, a BJP MP, of sexually harassing female wrestlers, including a minor. Despite the gravity of these allegations and the two FIRs filed against Singh, justice seems to be elusive for the wrestlers.

One of the FIRs filed against Singh has provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, a stringent law designed to safeguard children from sexual offenses.

Typically, an immediate arrest is expected when such an offense is reported, under the purview of this Act. The non-bailable nature of the charges further emphasise the seriousness of the allegations. However, it raises concerns when Brij Bhushan continues to walk freely and even attends parliamentary inaugurations.

It begs the question if the Pocso Act and the principle of immediate arrest apply to all accused except those who hold political affiliations, particularly with the ruling BJP? Is this a reflection of a system where votes matter more than the welfare of iconic women wrestlers, or where the government turns a blind eye? Is this the new India we are witnessing?

The delay in initiating legal proceedings against Singh under the Pocso Act and Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) demands an explanation. Could political bias be the reason behind this lack of action?

The sight of a politically connected individual flouting the rule of law is a stark reminder of the disparity in treatment. Equally disheartening is the absence of solidarity from current cricketers, often regarded as the shining stars of the nation.

Despite the country’s overwhelming passion for cricket, not a single current cricketer has spoken up in support of the protesting wrestlers.

Surprisingly, this silence extends to other prominent athletes from badminton, athletics, and boxing as well. Their failure to demonstrate support shows they lack the courage to take on the current ruling dispensation.

Unfortunately, this issue has assumed political overtones rather than being treated like a mere sexual harassment case. While members of the 1983 cricket World Cup winning squad have expressed support for the protesting wrestlers no doubt, the current male and female national cricket team players have chosen to remain silent, even in the face of pressure from their fans and supporters.

Perhaps they believe that maintaining a favorable relationship with the government will protect them from the inconvenience of facing a hostile state that could potentially unleash tax audits or other investigative agencies on them.

Perhaps their priorities lie in personal gain rather than upholding moral principles. It is worth recalling the solidarity shown by the Indian cricket team during the 2021 T20 World Cup match against Pakistan, where they took a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. While we do not expect cricketers to go to such lengths, a simple neutral message advocating justice for all parties involved would demonstrate their moral stance. Just as they picked sides during the BLM movement, they should exhibit moral integrity in this instance as well.

However, it is essential to acknowledge the few sports personalities who have displayed courage and stood up for what is right.

Anil Kumble, the star Indian cricketer, expressed his dismay at the mistreatment of the wrestlers, and other athletes from various fields, including Neeraj Chopra, Abhinav Bindra, and Sunil Chhetri, have shown their support. To the current cricketers, we implore you to summon the same courage and moral fortitude.