"Please Don't Make It Political," Wrestler Urges Brinda Karat At Protest

New Delhi:

Communist leader Brinda Karat was requested "with folded hands" to leave the stage at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Thursday where around 200 wrestlers are on protest over accusations against the federation chief and several coaches of sexually harassing multiple athletes.

"Neeche utar jaaiye (Please get down)... We request you, madam, please don't make this political," Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajran Punia told Ms Karat when she arrived at the venue, on the second day of the protest.

#WATCH | CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat asked to step down from the stage during wrestlers' protest against WFI at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/sw8WMTdjsk

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP later told NDTV, "We are in the fight against any type of sexual harassment, anything which demeans any section of women. So we are here to demand that the government take strong action."

"It is extremely unfortunate that they (wrestlers) should be forced to come here and sit on dharna. Any government of any colour should ensure that any complaint by any woman should be acted on and till the inquiry comes to a conclusion, the person accused should be removed," she said.

Ms Karat reached Jantar Mantar around the same time as Olympian Babita Phogat, who met a group of fellow wrestlers with "a message from the government".

"I'm a wrestler first. The BJP government is with the wrestlers. I will make sure that action is taken today itself. I'm a wrestler, and I'm in the government as well, so it is my responsibility to mediate. I have heard instances of abuse in my career as well. There is no smoke without fire. These voices are important," Babita Phogat, a member of the BJP and part of the Haryana government, said.