Silence is ‘not’ golden

Two images, two contrasting emotions.

One of an Olympic medallist tearing up with a lost hope playing in mind, the other of an alleged sexual predator flashing a victory sign and taking pride in being bedecked with a dozen flower garlands by his addicts.

If Sakshi Malik's retirement from the sport wasn't enough, fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia did his bit the following day by returning his Padma Shri award and leaving it on a footpath near Kartavya Path for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his deafening silence.

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More than 12 months have passed by since India's most decorated wrestlers took to the streets, accusing the then Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh Sharan of sexual harassment and intimidation, and demaning his resignation and dissolution of the federation. Through it all, PM Modi has been neither seen nor heard.

How do individuals find peace when there is no justice?

When the perpetrator goes scot-free? When the legal system and, most importantly, the country fails them?

When an image of Punia or Malik comes to mind, one thinks of their countless hours on the mat, attempting to flip their opponents or launching counter-attacks to convert a situation to their own advantage during a sparring session, not them having to read newspaper reports detailing how Singh continues to be sheltered by ‘men in power'.

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Nearly six years after ‘#MeToo' gained ground as a viral hashtag on X (formerly Twitter) with survivors recounting their stories of sexual abuse, the cultural impact is still being felt in the national capital.

Wrestlers' fight for justice comes at a price, and a steep one. With neither doors to knock on nor shoulders for support. Like a compass needle that always points towards the north, the accusing finger for every ill in our country points towards victims. This case is no different. What follows is a concoction of irrational judgement and unwarranted scrutiny!

When Mid-Day contacted Singh's BJP office in Kaiserganj in the wee hours of Sunday morning for his views on government's suspension of the newly-elected WFI, one of his assistants said ‘we are not answerable to the media' and that the issue would be taken up with the Sports Ministry in due course. No sooner had he ceased speaking than WFI president Sanjay Singh came to his own defense in a detailed media interaction.

Brij Bhushan, meanwhile, was his own self, under the reign of his cunning egotism, but something about him remained unsettled through the press conference.

Reassuring that he and Sanjay are not relatives, the 66-year-old MP attempted to carefully drift apart from the ongoing WFI controversy. Perhaps, his meeting with BJP national president JP Nadda on Saturday had a considerable bearing on his conduct, who knows!

Upon enquiring about details of his meeting with Nadda, a WFI insider answered in a four-word reply: ‘His influence is unavoidable'. Although irrelevant to the question, his response sends a dreadful message, but it is not without precedent.

From launching political attacks on the complainant wrestlers to mincing no words in declaring his dominance, Brij Bhushan has done it all. He may not be the president any longer, but his effect on the lives of several women wrestlers will ring out time and again, in the battle against their own emotions.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the author's personal views, and do not necessarily represent the views of Mid-Day.