Indian sports icons took to social media to react to the ongoing wrestlers’ protest. The likes of Neeraj Chopra, Sreeshankar, Sunil Chettri and Irfan Pathan spoke out in support of the wrestlers and appealed for swift action from the administration.
Indian Football captain Sunil Chhetri asked why were the wrestlers treated in such inhuman ways. “Why does it have to come down to our wrestlers being dragged around without any consideration? This isn’t the way to treat anyone. I really hope this whole situation is assessed the way it should be.” wrote Chhetri.
Gold Medalists Neeraj Chopra and Abhinav Bindra and Indian Football player Sunil Chhetri tweeted in support of Wrestlers. But guess who ANI took a quote from? Ex Wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, BJP Member. Without mentioning his party affiliation. pic.twitter.com/9HM31lYlbL
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) May 29, 2023
Indian field athlete Murali Sreeshankar termed the act as ‘barbaric’. He also stated that the picture of athletes being dragged on the road would leave a deep wound for every individual who dreams and works towards Olympic glory.
Why does it have to come down to our wrestlers being dragged around without any consideration? This isn’t the way to treat anyone.
I really hope this whole situation is assessed the way it should be.— Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) May 28, 2023
The protests took an ugly turn when wrestlers started to march towards the parliament to conduct ‘mahila mahapanchayat’ which coincided with the inauguration of the new parliament.
यह देखकर मुझे बहुत दुख हो रहा है | There has to be a better way to deal with this. https://t.co/M2gzso4qjX
— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) May 28, 2023
I’m so sad to see the visuals of our Athletes…. Please solve this ASAP 🙏
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 28, 2023
The wrestlers were initially allowed to leave their protest sites, however, as soon as they crossed the protective barricade around the protest areas, they were detained by the police.
According to a report by the Sportstar, the wrestlers were detained in front of the Ashoka Road residence of the President of India’s Wrestling Federation, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh against whom the wrestlers are protesting.
