West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday took to the streets against the alleged manhandling of wrestlers at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar after they tried to march towards the new Parliament building following its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, May 28. The TMC leader participated in a rally which started from Hazra Road in the southern part of Kolkata city to Rabindra Sadan.
She also addressed the rally and said, “Our team will go to meet the wrestlers and support them. We are with you, that’s why we have taken out this rally today. It will be continued tomorrow also. Wrestlers are the pride of our country. We are with you in your fight,” reported ANI.
A video of the rally was shared by the news agency in which the TMC leader can bee seen walking on the streets with hundreds of supporters who had the national flags in their hands.
#WATCH कोलकाता: पहलवानों के समर्थन में पश्चिम बंगाल की मुख्यमंत्री ममता बनर्जी ने हाजरा मोड़ से रवींद्र सदन तक रैली निकाली। https://t.co/9u1yZgB1mY pic.twitter.com/seiAgGbsiv
— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) May 31, 2023
On Tuesday, Banerjee had held a press conference and backed the protesting wrestlers by saying, “Our wrestlers were beaten up and tortured. I talked to wrestlers and extended our support to them. We are in solidarity with them,”
“A person is accused of physical assault, why he is not being arrested? ‘Puja-path’ happens only when humanity is worshipped,” Banerjee further said as reported by PTI.
Meanwhile, the Wrestling Federation chief Brij Bhushan has said that there is no evidence against him and he is ready to be hanged if any allegation is proved.
“If a single allegation against me is proven, I will hang myself. If you (wrestlers) have any evidence, present it to the Court and I am ready to accept any punishment,” said Bhushan.
Since April 23, the wrestlers have been protesting at Jantar Mantar demanding the arrest of Singh.
