New Delhi:

Less than two kilometres away from the grand inauguration of the nation’s new parliament, chaos unfolded within the coronary heart of the capital on Sunday as prime wrestlers, together with Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia, have been detained by Delhi Police whereas making an attempt to march in the direction of the brand new parliament constructing.

The Olympics and Commonwealth Games medal-winning champions have been seen being shoved, pushed and dragged into buses in scenes that stoked widespread outrage.

The athletes had deliberate a ‘Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat’ (ladies’s meeting) as a part of their ongoing protest towards the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Mr Singh, a member of the ruling BJP, has been accused by the wrestlers of sexually harassing a number of feminine athletes. These allegations have stirred a nationwide controversy, resulting in widespread protests demanding his arrest.

This is how our champions are being handled. The world is watching us! #WrestlersProtestpic.twitter.com/rjrZvgAlSO

— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) May 28, 2023

VIDEO | Wrestler Sangeeta Phogat detained by police at Jantar Mantar. pic.twitter.com/ENQmK39KhN

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 28, 2023

साक्षी मलिक को दिल्ली पुलिस ने हिरासत में लिया – Tweet by Team pic.twitter.com/GNYswmmU8F

— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) May 28, 2023

#WATCH | Delhi: Security personnel cease & detain protesting wrestlers as they attempt to march in the direction of the brand new Parliament from their website of protest at Jantar Mantar.

Wrestlers are attempting to march in the direction of the brand new Parliament as they wish to maintain a ladies’s Maha Panchayat in entrance of… pic.twitter.com/3vfTNi0rXl

— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2023

Delhi Police had ramped up safety measures at Jantar Mantar, the designated protest website, forward of the deliberate ‘Mahapanchayat’. Despite the elevated safety, the wrestlers remained adamant about going ahead with their protest.

The pressure escalated when the wrestlers, led by Vinesh Phogat and her cousin sister Sangeeta Phogat, tried to breach the safety barricades.

“All protesters were detained and forcefully boarded in buses by Police,” stated Dependra Pathak, Special Commissioner of Police, Law and Order. He added that the athletes have been “detained for violating law and order,” and warranted that authorized motion can be taken “after an inquiry in due course of time”.

Following the detentions, cops proceeded to clear the protest website, which had been lively because the wrestlers resumed their protest towards Mr Singh on April 23.

Opposition leaders, who boycotted the parliament opening, strongly condemned the crackdown.

राज्याभिषेक पूरा हुआ – ‘अहंकारी राजा’ सड़कों पर कुचल रहा जनता की आवाज़! pic.twitter.com/9hbEoKZeZs

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 28, 2023

On a day when the brand new Parliament constructing is devoted to the nation, it is distressing to witness such brutal & shameful manhandling of India’s most celebrated champion wrestlers, our nationwide delight. Their crime – Seeking justice by way of peaceable democratic protests.
I strongly… https://t.co/d5ErHFViPd

— Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) May 28, 2023

एक तरफ़ मोदी लोकतंत्र पर उपदेश दे रहे थे, वहीं कुछ ही मीटर दूर, उनकी सरकार का असली, घिनौना चेहरा कुछ इस तरह सामने आया।
धिक्कार है! pic.twitter.com/4ugTGRmKmS

— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) May 28, 2023

खिलाड़ियों की छाती पर लगे मेडल हमारे देश की शान होते हैं। उन मेडलों से, खिलाड़ियों की मेहनत से देश का मान बढ़ता है।

भाजपा सरकार का अहंकार इतना बढ़ गया है कि सरकार हमारी महिला खिलाड़ियों की आवाजों को निर्ममता के साथ बूटों तले रौंद रही है।

ये एकदम गलत है। पूरा देश सरकार के… pic.twitter.com/xjreCELXRN

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) May 28, 2023

The protesting athletes, which embody Olympic medallists and Asian Games gold winners, have been unwavering of their demand for Mr Singh’s arrest. The use of drive by the police, they insisted, wouldn’t deter them from carrying on with their peaceable protest and meeting.