Page 27 - Protest

4 women's associations give call for protests in support of wrestlers

Four national women's organisations have given a joint call to hold nationwide protests for the immediate arrest of BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Haryana minister Sandeep Singh over allegations of sexual harassment made by wrestlers. In a statement, the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), Coordination POW-PMS-IJM All India Mahila Sanskritik Sanghatan (AIMSS) and the All India Agragami Mahila Sanghatan (AIAMS), expressed solidarity with the protesting wrestlers. "Hundreds of protests will be held in different parts of the country. Women will hold meetings in villages, bastis and mohallahs to expose the anti-women' face of the BJP. Lakhs of signatures will be collected which will be sent to the prime minister through district collectors," the statement said. The top grapplers of the country have been protesting at Jantar Mantar here since April 23, demanding that the government make public the findings of an oversight ..

This is the fight for country's dignity, says Olympian Bajrang Punia

With farmers marching into the national capital from various states to show solidarity with protesting wrestlers,Bajrang Punia said theirs was a fight for the country's dignity

WFI row: 500 farmers allowed to go to Jantar Mantar by buses from Tikri

As many as 500 farmers, who had gathered at the Tikri Border to join a protest in support of wrestlers, were allowed by the Delhi Police to travel to Jantar Mantar by buses

Wrestlers vs WFI chief: Khap leaders hold talks with grapplers in Delhi

In a powerful show of solidarity, representatives from various 'khaps' in Haryana gathered at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Sunday to extend their support to women wrestlers protesting

Samyukta Kisan Morcha to hold nationwide protests in support of wrestlers

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha on Saturday announced that it will hold nationwide protests in support of grapplers protesting against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The outfit also demanded the immediate arrest of Singh. On May 7, several senior leaders of SKM from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and western Uttar Pradesh, with hundreds of farmers, shall once again visit the protest site at Jantar Mantar and extend support to the protesting wrestlers, the outfit said in a statement. SKM leaders shall also lead deputations to important administrative officers such as the commissioner of police, Delhi, as well as Union home and sports ministers, it said. From May 11-18, an all-India agitation shall be held in all state capitals, district headquarters, and talukas. Public meetings and protest marches shall be held and effigy of Singh and the BJP-led central government shall be burnt, the SKM said. The SKM had spearheaded the year-long agitation against the ...

Fleeing from attack, Manipur people take refuge in makeshift jungle camps

Annu Doungel, 67, and five of her family members hurriedly packed up bags taking some rice and a few utensils and fled to the jungle on foot, trekking around two hours in the dark leaving Bethel, a tribal village 30 kms to the northwest of Imphal, which till the other day was an abode of peace. Doungel and her husband, both retired government employees, are now staying in makeshift camps made of tarpaulin and bamboo, along with their grandchildren and sons. Other family members were not at home when they had to leave hastily. She has managed to bring from home some rice, but for everything else, they depend on the produce the jungle offers water from streams, and wild vegetables and edible leaves from plants in the forest. We left in the wee hours on Thursday after attacks on villages inhabited by non-Meitei people. We heard that group armed with guns and daos (machetes) are coming and burning village after village, Doungel told PTI over the phone. Doungel and her family abandone

Scribe roughed up at Jantar Mantar; IWPC, Press Club demand probe

Associations of mediapersons on Thursday demanded a probe into the allegations that Delhi Police personnel roughed up a female journalist covering the wrestlers' protests against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh. In a joint statement, the Indian Women's Press Corps and the Press Club of India demand a probe into the matter and said strict action should be taken the erring police personnel for their treatment of journalist Sakshi Joshi. Joshi has alleged she was "manhandled" by Delhi Police personnel on Wednesday night at Jantar Mantar where she was covering the protests by the wrestlers demanding action against WFI chief Singh. Mahila Congress chief Netta D'Souza, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate condemned the alleged roughing up of Joshi by Delhi Police. A scuffle broke out between the wrestlers and Delhi Police personnel on Wednesday night when AAP leaders brought folding beds to the protest

When politicians joined wrestlers' protest its credibility eroded: Lekhi

Union Minister and BJP leader Meenakashi Lekhi on Thursday said the credibility of the wrestlers' protest at Jantar Mantar eroded after "discredited" politicians joined it. The wrestlers have levelled sexual harassment charges against Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Saran Singh and have been staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar since April 23 demanding his arrest as well as ouster from the WFI post. Various political parties, including the Congress and AAP, have lent their support to the wrestlers. Hours after a scuffle allegedly broke out between the wrestlers and some police personnel late on Wednesday night, Lekhi in a press conference said the Centre was dealing with the wrestlers' issue "very sensitively" and pointed out that the matter was in court. "The government has a very sensitive approach towards the wrestlers and the women. We are very sensitive to this cause," said the minister. She added that two committees were formed, the case was before the

No force used against wrestlers; 5 personnel injured: Delhi Police

Delhi Police on Thursday denied allegations that its personnel were drunk or used force against protesting wrestlers during a late-night ruckus at Jantar Mantar between police and some grapplers. The deputy commissioner of police (DCP), New Delhi, said five police personnel were injured in the Wednesday night ruckus. The wrestlers, on the other hand, have alleged that they were beaten up by the police and a couple of protesters were injured in the head. "A sufficient number of women officers were on duty during the night. On the medical examination, no police personnel were found drunk. Five police personnel sustained injuries during the scuffle. "No force was used by police personnel against the protestors. Regarding injury to one protestor, he left the hospital against medical advice and has not given a statement to the police yet," the DCP tweeted from his official handle. Earlier in the day, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal said the protesters told her that

Scuffle between protesting wrestlers and Delhi cops: What we know so far

The recent demonstration in the national capital comes in the wake of sexual assault allegations against the WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

She is first an athlete, says Bajrang Punia as PT Usha meets wrestlers

Usha had a discussion with the protesting wrestlers and left the protest site without speaking to the media. Later, Bajrang Punia told reporters

PT Usha meets protesting wrestlers; 'Der Aaye Durust Aaye' says Bajrang

Facing criticism from all quarters for being insensitive towards the protesting wrestlers, IOA President PT Usha on Wednesday met them at Jantar Mantar here and assured the grapplers of her support, saying she was first an athlete and then an administrator. Former sprinter Usha had come down heavily on the wrestlers for resuming their protest instead of approaching the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for their issues. She had said that the wrestlers should have shown some discipline and that they had tarnished the country's image by hitting the streets, a comment that brought criticism for her and the IOA. Usha left without speaking with the media but Bajrang Punia said she has assured them help. "Initially when she said that, we had felt very bad but then she said that her comments were misinterpreted. She said that she is first an athlete and then an administrator," said Bajrang, the Tokyo Games bronze medallist. "We told her that we want justice. We don't have a fight with the

Hollywood writers go on strike for better pay amid Guild, studios deadlock

The Writers Guild of America, which represents more than 11,500 Hollywood scribes, said its strike is effective Tuesday morning Los Angeles time

May Day Protest: World's workers rally, France sees pension anger

People squeezed by inflation and demanding economic justice took to the streets across Asia and Europe to mark May Day on Monday, in a global outpouring of worker discontent not seen since before the COVID-19 pandemic sent the world into lockdowns. French police charged at radical protesters smashing bank windows as unions pushed the president to scrap a higher retirement age. South Koreans pleaded for higher wages. Spanish lawyers demanded the right to take days off. Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon marched in a country plunged in economic crisis. While May Day is marked around the world on May 1 as a celebration of labour rights, this year's rallies tapped into broader frustrations. Climate activists spray painted a Louis Vuitton museum in Paris, and protesters in Germany demonstrated against violence targeting women and LGBTQ+ people. Celebrations were forced indoors in Pakistan and tinged with political tensions in Turkey, as both countries face high-stakes elections. Russi

Listen to 'Mann ki Baat' of protesting women wrestlers: Kapil Sibal to PM

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to go to Jantar Mantar and listen to the "mann ki baat" of protesting women wrestlers, saying that such a step would show that the PM is willing to understand their pain. Sibal, a senior advocate, has represented the wrestlers in the Supreme Court. His remarks come a day after the 100th episode of Modi's "Mann ki Baat" radio programme was broadcast. In a tweet, Sibal said, "Congratulations Modi ji: For your 100th 'Mann ki Baat'. If you have time Modi ji please go to Jantar Mantar and listen to the protesting women wrestlers 'mann ki baat'." "That will show that our Prime Minister is willing to understand their pain!" Sibal said. The Delhi Police filed two FIRs against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Friday on allegations of sexual harassment levelled against the BJP MP by seven women wrestlers. The FIRs were filed hours after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Del

Media is supporting Brij Bhushan more than players: Protesting wrestlers

The protesting wrestlers on Sunday accused the media of helping WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh more than the players, saying the newspersons should not give him the platform to speak. Accused of sexual harassment of women wrestlers, the Wrestling Federation of India chief has vowed to fight against the charges and claimed that the athletes' protest was politically motivated. The Delhi Police has filed two FIRs, including one under the POCSO act, against the BJP MP, who has completed 12 years as WFI president and is ineligible to become an office bearer again. "The media is supporting Brij Bhushan more than the players. You see his criminal records. Does any player, sitting here, or players from other sports, have criminal record?" Bajrang asked during a media interaction. The Tokyo Games bronze medallist sought to convey the message that it's more difficult to win an Olympic medal than becoming a Member of Parliament in this country. "The players win medals for the country, a

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Delhi Police to provide security to wrestlers, record their statement

Sources in Delhi Police on Saturday said it will extend security to wrestlers party to the case against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was earlier booked under sections of outraging the modesty of a woman, stalking, and section 10 of POCSO Act in two FIRs. The BJP MP has been accused of sexual harassment by seven women wrestlers, and a minor girl. Police will now move to recording the statements of the seven complainants. According to the sources, one of the cases against him was registered under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), and 354D (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code, while the other was registered under sections 10 of POCSO Act. The incidents mentioned in the FIRs allegedly took place between 2012 and 2022 at different places, including abroad, a source said. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met the protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar on Saturday a

If I resign, it will mean that I have accepted their allegations: WFI chief

"They did not complain (of sexual harassment) to any police station, sports ministry or federation for twelve years"

Won't proceed with Barsu refinery project without locals' consent: Shinde

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday said the proposed refinery project at Barsu village in Ratnagiri district will not be implemented without the local people's consent, and appealed for calm in the area. Earlier in the day, police used tear gas in Barsu and Solgaon villages in Rajapur tehsil to disperse the protesters who are opposing the refinery, and detained Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Vinayak Raut. "A former chief minister himself had suggested the Barsu site to the Union government. After losing the CM's post, he is opposing the project. One can not have such double standards," Shinde told reporters in Mumbai, apparently referring to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray whose party is now backing the section of villagers opposing the refinery. "We are a people's government and we are not against them. We will not proceed without the local people's consent,' the chief minister added. Shinde also claimed that more than 70 percent of locals support the project as it wil