In Photos: Protesting Wrestlers Hold Candlelight March to Delhi's India Gate

The march is being held from Delhi's Jantar Mantar to India Gate on Tuesday, 23 May.
Ashna Butani
Photos
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A massive crowd gathered to take part in the candlelight march being organised by Indian wrestlers to mark one month of their protest against sidelined Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

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(Ashna Butani/The Quint) 

<div class="paragraphs"><p>A massive crowd gathered to take part in the candlelight march being organised by Indian wrestlers to mark one month of their protest against sidelined Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.</p></div>
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A massive crowd gathered to take part in the candlelight march being organised by Indian wrestlers to mark one month of their protest against sidelined Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Recalling the time she was in Delhi for the farmers protest, Krishna Malik, a 66-year-old woman from Rohtak said, "We will stay for as long as we need, like we did during farmers protests... have been coming for few days and going back. This fight is necessary for our daughters."

Bajrang Punia addressing the crowd from as the evening set in. Protesters poured in from different parts of Delhi and Haryana.

Wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat, who have been at the forefront of the protests, lit their candles at around 6.15 pm, following which, everyone else did too.

The march began at 5 pm from Jantar Mantar. Addressing the crowd gathered to march from Delhi's Jantar Mantar to India Gate on Tuesday, Olympic gold medallist Sakshi Malik said, "This is the fight for India's daughters, be patient, we will win this fight."

The march is being held from Delhi's Jantar Mantar to India Gate on Tuesday, 23 May. Prominent Indian wrestlers including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia have been demanding the arrest of WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment.

Several people from Haryana also showed up to take part in the march on Tuesday. Hari Om, 62, from Rohtak in Haryana said that he won't stop fighting until he's arrested.

Security forces were deployed at Delhi's India Gate ahead of the candlelight march being held by the protesting wrestlers.

Supporters of Bhim Army and Bharatiya Kisan Union are taking part in the march, demanding justice for the women wrestlers who've accused Brij Bhushan of sexually harassing them.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has recorded the statements of seven wrestlers, one of whom is a minor, and interrogated Singh on the allegations of sexual harassment. So far, there has been no arrest in the two cases.

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A group of women from Rohtak in Haryana. Many of the protesters were present at the farmers protests' on Delhi's borders between 2020 and 2021.

Supporters of wrestlers protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh during a protest march at India Gate in New Delhi on Tuesday, 23 May.

Security personnel deployed at India Gate for the march of wrestlers protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in New Delhi on Tuesday, 23 May.

Wrestlers Satyawart Kadian, Vinesh Phogat, Sangita Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia with supporters during their candlelight protest march, at India Gate in New Delhi on Tuesday, 23 May.

Former J&K Governor Satyapal Malik and other supporters during the wrestlers' protest march at India Gate in New Delhi on Tuesday, 23 May.

Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia with supporters during their candlelight protest march at India Gate in New Delhi on Tuesday, 23 May.

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