Wrestling for Justice: The Protest by the Wrestlers

Introduction 

In recent times, the world of professional wrestling has seen an unexpected twist as wrestlers have stepped out of the ring and appeared on the front line of protests for social justice. These athletes, who inspire millions of youth with their incredible physical prowess and make the entire nation proud in various international sports events; now have taken a stand against real-world injustices. This article delves into the emergence of wrestlers as activists, exploring their motivations, the impact of their protests, and the broader significance of their actions.

Unleashing the Power of the Platform

Professional wrestlers possess a unique platform that allows them to reach and connect with millions of fans worldwide. They are idolized and highly respected by a diverse audience, transcending cultural boundaries. Wrestlers recognize the power they wield and have begun to utilize it to raise awareness and promote social change. They understand that their voices can amplify important messages, reaching people who might otherwise remain indifferent or unaware.

Motivations and Causes

The motivations driving wrestlers to become activists are as varied as the individuals themselves. Some of them are driven by personal experiences with injustice, while others are inspired by their fans or want to leave a positive legacy beyond their in-ring careers. Issues such as racial inequality, police brutality, gender discrimination, and LGBTQ+ rights have been at the forefront of their protests. Wrestlers bring attention to these causes through various means, including social media campaigns, public statements, and participation in organized demonstrations.

Earlier also we have seen other sportspersons participating in such activities; like the ‘Taking the knee’ posture which is quite prevalent in cricket and football matches as a symbolic protest against racial discrimination.

The Recent Stormy Scenario

Some of India’s prominent wrestlers have been protesting in New Delhi for so long against the former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (“WFI”), Mr. Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment.

Some well-known wrestlers who made the nation proud, such as 2016 Olympics Games bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, commonwealth games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat and Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Bajrang Punia, have been protesting in Jantar-Mantar for over a month against Singh, who has been accused for harassing seven women wrestlers, one of whom is minor. Singh, is a 66-year-old powerful Member of Parliament (“MP”) representing the ruling Party, has denied the accusations and counter-claimed that the protests are “politically motivated” by the opposition party.

On May 28, police detained several protesting wrestlers, including Punia and Malik, who were attempting to march to the newly inaugurated Parliament building.

Some of the protesters scuffled with police and were taken away in a bus. The sight of the wrestlers struggling to keep the protests going with the tricolour in hand made several other athletes jump in and call for immediate action in the case.

Redefining Stereotypes

Wrestlers breaking away from the stereotypes associated with their industry is a significant development. It is often seen that larger-than-life characters focused solely on minding their own business, but their recent foray into activism challenges preconceived notions. By embracing their roles as both performers and crusaders, they are showing the world that athletes can be multifaceted individuals with strong convictions. This redefinition allows wrestlers to inspire their fans and provoke dialogue on social issues that may have previously been dismissed or overlooked.

Demand of Wrestlers

Some of the demands have been made by wrestlers include -

1. Wrestlers have demanded free fair elections for the wrestling body whose leadership will not be accused of corruption and miss management.

2. The wrestlers have also demanded a woman as chief of WFI for the protection of female wrestlers.

3. The wrestlers have repeated their calls for Mr. Singh's arrest over sexual harassment charges.

4. Wrestlers have demanded that Mr. Singh and his family cannot be part of this general election and wrestling’s federation as well.

5. The FIR against them should be quashed.

Opinion and Analysis

According to me, not all the demands are acceptable like wrestlers have demanded free and fair elections but then they get biased after making it specific that they want the position of chief of WFI to be reserved for women only. WFI is the governing body of wrestling in India and all the professional wrestlers in India irrespective of their gender endeavour to become a member of it to participate in national & international sports events for the growth of their athletic careers. Therefore the chair of the chief shouldn’t be reserved for a particular gender. It becomes ironic specifically when some of the athletes are portraying themselves as the defender of gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights.

The Constitution of the Wrestling Federation of India provides a detailed, reasonable composition of the management and fair election process of the President (Chief Officer of the WFI). However, there is no proper mechanism for impeachment or disqualification of the President of WFI. Clause (b) of Article VI empowers the executive committee to take action against ‘any member association, player and official for indiscipline’. Here it can be argued that the term any “Official” may include the President as well. But overall it lacks to lay down a compact framework for impeachment or disqualification of higher office bearers; and it also needs to form an internal committee as recommended by the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act (“POSH Act”) in order to properly address the complaints and take actions against such instances of sexual harassment.

Wrestlers have also demanded that Mr Singh and his family to be barred from the upcoming general election which is not possible unless convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years u/s 8 of the Representation of the People Act; similarly as the prominent MP of the opposing party, Mr Rahul Gandhi was recently convicted by Surat court and subsequently disqualified from the status of MP.

The law clearly stands for innocent until proven guilty and I think the court should fast-track the case.

Singh was charged under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (“IPC”) but not facing charges under POCSO Act and POSH[1].

Section-354, IPC: Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any woman, intending to outrage or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby outrage her modesty, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.”

Section 354(A), IPC: “physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures”

Section 354(D), IPC: Section 354D defines stalking by a man who “ follows a woman and contacts, or attempts to contact” her “ to foster personal interaction repeatedly despite a clear indication of disinterest”.

Conclusion

The recent protest by top Indian wrestlers and the government's assurance of a thorough investigation has brought into light an undisclosed issue of harassment in sports, particularly within the Wrestling Federation of India itself, whose duty is to encourage, promote and control amateur wrestling activities. The outcome of the inquiry and the potential changes in the federation’s leadership, policies, and procedures will likely have significant & far-flung implications for not only the Indian wrestling community but also the future of all sports in the country. Moreover, the protest aligns with global efforts to combat harassment in sports, emphasizing the need for a safe and supportive environment for the athletes.

~Authored by Sneha Singh Chauhan