UP: Student Fraternity Backs Wrestlers Protest Against Sexual Harassment

Lucknow: Students from different universities, including Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Lucknow University and Banaras Hindu University (BHU), carried out a march in solidarity with the protest of the country's top agitating wrestlers against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment by female wrestlers.

A march was taken out on Monday from the Library canteen to Bab-e- Sir Syed gate, where students raised slogans and accused the Modi-led Central government of consistently shielding BJP MP Singh. 

Carrying placards and posters with slogans that read "AMU students support our wrestlers" and "we stand with our champions" and shouting slogans against the government, nearly 100 protesters gathered in the march.

Vikas Yadav, a student leading the march, alleged that the BJP government was adopting a dictatorial attitude with the wrestlers and killing democracy. 

"If our sisters do not get justice, AMU students in large numbers will reach Jantar Mantar. They have made our country proud, and if they are in this condition, we need to support them," he said. 

Meanwhile, members of the All India Students' Association (AISA) took out a protest rally march at Lucknow University to show solidarity with the female wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. 

However, they were detained by the police for creating a "ruckus" on the LU premises. 

The AISA members demanded the immediate arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. 

"Wrestlers who brought laurels to the country are fighting a battle of honour on the road today, but the shameless government is leaving no stone unturned to protest BJP MP," a student told NewsClick.

Meanwhile, the proctorial team tried to persuade students not to protest on campus since the university had nothing to do with the incident. Later, police detained the protesting students and took them to a nearby police station. 

Blood Signature Campaign Launched

A group of women students has launched a campaign to get one thousand signatures on a memorandum with their signature with blood which would be sent to the President while seeking justice for protesting female wrestlers. So far, the group has claimed to have got around 100 such blood signatures on the memorandum.

The campaign is being run under the banner of the All India Students' Association (AISA). 

"We are conducting a blood signature campaign to support the women wrestlers fighting for justice in New Delhi. It is highly condemnable for women sportspersons in the country to be treated this way," Neha, a student of BHU, told NewsClick.

The protesters urged the authorities to take strict action against the accused and ensure a safe environment for women in sports.

Seven women wrestlers, including a minor, reportedly filed a sexual harassment complaint against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh with the Delhi Police. 

Delhi Police registered two FIRs against the BJP MP from Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly sexually harassing women wrestlers after the Supreme Court intervened. 

The protest in New Delhi's Jantar Mantar continues as the wrestlers demand the arrest of the WFI president.