The Mysterious Silence Of Women

Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court granted regular bail to former Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and the Federation’s assistant secretary Vinod Tomar Singh in the sexual harassment case registered on the basis of complaints of several wrestlers. The Court imposed several conditions while granting bail to them and said the accused should not threaten the complainants or witnesses directly or indirectly. The court further directed that the accused shall not leave the country without the Court noted that the Delhi Police lawyer said that he is neither opposing nor supporting the bail application.

The Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet against the six-time MP on June 15 under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). This case was registered on a complaint lodged by women wrestlers. Tomar was charged with offences under IPC sections 109 (abetment of any offence, if the act abetted is committed in consequence, and where no express provision is made for its punishment), 354, 354A and 506 (criminal intimidation).

The Congress questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “silence” over the sexual harassment charge against Singh, who is also a BJP MP, and said the government is facing a test from India’s daughters. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate asked when will Modi expel Singh?. She said, “Why is Prime Minister Modi silent on the issue of sexual harassment against women sportspersons? When will Modi ji expel Singh from the party? When will Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh be arrested? When will the Modi government stop giving protection and patronising Singh.” Also, Congress took a jibe at Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani and shared her ‘missing’ poster. The poster is seen as a jibe at Smriti Irani’s silence on the wrestlers’ protest against a leader of her party, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. In another tweet, Congress also attacked Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi with Smriti Irani and said ‘one hides her tweets’ while the ‘other runs.’

Rajya Sabha MP,   Shiv Sena  (UBT) Priyanka Chaturvedi was scathing in her comment On Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh getting bail . In tweet she wrote, Justice, Delhi Police style- damning chargesheet but did not oppose bail & voila gets bail in a sexual harassment case!

TMC MP , Mahua Moitra took on women and child development minister Smriti Irani head on with her tweet

Many leaders of the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), especially women leaders are attacked for their silence on the wrestlers’ protest. The top Indian wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia have accused the BJP MP and chief of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment against female wrestlers’ including minors. It is certainly appalling to see that no one from the ruling party have shared their concern for the wrestlers, whereas same leaders leave no stone unturned when it comes to attacking the Congress. Whatever the reasons be, a fair chance should be given to the wrestlers and justice be done to them for the sake of the sports fraternity.