New Delhi,UPDATED: Jun 2, 2023 22:09 IST
By Nitin Kumar Srivastava: Members of the 1983 Cricket World Cup winning squad on Friday spoke in support of the wrestlers protesting in the national capital. Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who was part of the ’83 batch, said it was “heartbreaking and appalling” how the protesting wrestlers were taken into custody.
Speaking to India Today over phone, Krishnamachari Srikkanth said, “It is very heartening to see so many sportspersons supporting the wrestlers- the same wrestlers who got laurels for the country in various world events. To see on the television this sort of behaviour with them, the way they were taken away into custody, it was heartbreaking and appalling.”
Top wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia, have been staging a protest over sexual harassment allegations levelled against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
On May 28, the Delhi Police had detained the wrestlers for violation of law and order when they marched towards the new Parliament building without permission. The police action against the wrestlers had invited criticism from different quarters.
Last month, the agitating wrestlers took their protest to Haridwar, but did not carry out the threat of immersing their medals into holy river Ganga.
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In a joint statement on Friday, the 1983 World Cup winning cricket team said it was distressed and disturbed after seeing the visuals of wrestlers being manhandled. The cricket champions also asked the protesting wrestlers not to “take any hasty decision” when it comes to their plan of submerging their medals in the Ganga River.
“Those medals have involved years of effort, sacrifice, determination, and grit and are not only their own but the nation’s pride and joy. We urge them not to take any hasty decision in this matter and also fervently hope that their grievances are heard and resolved quickly. Let the law of the land prevail,” the statement read.
The members of the 83 batch include Kapil Dev, Roger Binny, Sunil Gavaskar, Mohinder Amarnath, K Srikkanth, Syed Kirmani, Yashpal Sharma, Madan Lal, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Sandeep Patil and Kirti Azad.
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