Will immerse medals in Ganga, fast unto death: Protesting wrestlers

We don't need these medals anymore because this system does its own propaganda by hanging them around our necks, wrestler Sakshi Malik said

India's top wrestlers, who were recently detained and removed from their protest site at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, have announced that they will now immerse their medals into the river Ganga and then go on an indefinite hunger strike at India Gate.

Wrestler Sakshi Malik announced on Twitter that the grapplers will travel to Haridwar and immerse the medals in River Ganga at 6 pm even though "their lives would have no meaning" after losing the medals.

"...it seems that these medals decorated around our necks have no meaning anymore. It was killing me just thinking of returning them, but what use is a life lived compromising on your self-respect," she said in a Hindi letter on her Twitter account.

"We don't need these medals anymore because this system does its own propaganda by hanging them around our necks and putting a mask on us. They then exploit us, and put us in jail if we protest," the letter added.

The wrestlers further said the Prime Minister "who calls us our daughters", did not even once show his concern for the grapplers.

"Rather, he invited the 'oppressor' (Brij Bhushan Singh) to the inauguration of the new Parliament building. He even posed for photographs in bright white clothes. We have been stained by this brightness," the statement said.

Top wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia, are protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment of female athletes, including a minor.

The protest, which began on April 23 at Jantar Mantar, saw heartbreaking visuals on the day of the new Parliament building's inauguration when Delhi Police cracked down on them in the midst of their march.

Dramatic visuals emerged from the wrestlers’ protest march as hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel blocked their advance toward the new Parliament House. As the protesters attempted to breach the security cordon, a fierce tussle broke out, with the wrestlers and cops pushing, shoving, and grappling with one another.

Meanwhile, the Opposition parties including Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and Trinamool Congress condemned the police action on the protesting grapplers.

"Arrogant king is crushing the voice of the people on the streets as the “coronation is over”, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said it is "shameful our champions are treated in this manner".