INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia on Monday claimed that the people who are trying to discredit them and force them to
give up their fight for justice against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Singh, were now coming after their jobs.The
statement came on the heels of several reports claiming that the protesting grapplers, including Sakshi Malik, had withdrawn from the stir
and rejoined their respective government jobs
The wrestlers, however, issued a clarification saying they had resumed work as Officer of Special Duty (OSD) in railways but the reports
suggesting that they have withdrawn from the protest are just "rumours"
According to sources, the wrestlers resumed their respective jobs last week itself.Phogat and Punia took to Twitter and claimed that their
lives are at stake and if their jobs are seen as an obstacle in the way of justice they are willing to leave their jobs."Those who said our
medals are worth Rs 15 each are now after our jobs
Our life is at stake, a job is a very small thing in front of that
If the job is seen to be an obstacle in the way of justice, then we will not take even ten seconds to leave it
Do not show fear of job," Punia and Phogat tweeted.All fake news: WrestlersAfter media reports surfaced claiming that they had withdrawn
from the protest, Sakshi Malik and Punia vehemently denied the reports and said they would continue to fight for justice
Wrestler Satyawart Kadian, Malik's husband, said the reports are false and "neither have they compromised, nor will they step back".Kadian
said fake information is being spread to weaken the protest."Neither we have compromised, nor we will step back
All this is fake, we will not take back this protest
We will stay united and keep protesting for justice
Fake news is being spread to weaken us..
The entire nation is against Delhi Police," said the wrestler to the media.Malik was earlier seen at the office of the Northern Railways in
the national capital, triggering speculations that she has rejoined her office."No this is all rumours we did not call off the protest
I came to the office to finish some pending work for a day or two and we are making our strategy on what to do next, how to continue the
protest in a non-violent way" Sakshi Malik said.When asked about the claims that the minor who was among the grapplers who had accusing
ex-WFI chief Bhushan of sexual harassment had taken back her complaint, Malik said, "This is all fake news to discredit our protest in the
eyes of the public and to make us lose public support."Punia also tweeted that the wrestlers have not stepped back."The news of withdrawing
the movement is just a rumour
This news is being spread to harm us
We have neither retreated nor have we withdrawn the movement
The news of women wrestlers raising FIR is also false
The fight will continue till justice is served," tweeted Punia.Months-long protestOlympians Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat
had been on protest since the beginning of this year in order to press for the removal and arrest of the WFI chief over allegations of
sexual harassment.On May 28, wrestlers had planned a march and protest in front of the new Parliament, despite the imposition of Section 144
They were detained on their way by the Delhi police and FIR was filed against them under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 147, 149, 186,
188, 332, 353, Section 3 of the PDPP Act.The protest site was also cleared by the Delhi Police
Following their removal from Jantar Mantar, Wrestlers arrived in Haridwar two days later to immerse their medals in the Ganga.However, they
later issue a five-day ultimatum to the Centre to act against the WFI chief following the intervention of farmer leader Naresh Tikait
The Delhi police have registered 10 complaints and two FIRs against former WFI chief Brij Bhusan Singh.(With inputs from agencies)Watch'All
rumours': Sakshi Malik on reports of wrestlers withdrawing protest
