Wrestlers protest on the streets is "tarnishing" India's image, protesting on streets equates to "indiscipline", says PT Usha

The wrestlers who have restarted their protest against Wrestling Federation of India's (WFI) President Brij Bhushan, accusing him of sexual harassment have drawn harsh criticism from Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha. The wrestlers' protest in the streets, according to PT Usha, is "tarnishing" India's reputation. PT Usha claimed that the wrestlers' protest amounts to "indiscipline"

IOA has a committee for sexual harassment; rather than taking to the streets, they (the protesting wrestlers) could have come to us earlier, but they did not come to IOA,"said an IOA official. Not just for wrestlers, it is bad for sports; they should also practise discipline, the woman stated.

Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, as well as star wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, who won a medal at the World Championships, have restarted their ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Brij Bhushan has been charged with sexual harassment and criminal intimidation.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has three members, and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has created an ad hoc council to oversee its operations until a new governing body is chosen.

Suma Shirur, a former shooter, Bhupendra Singh Bajwa, the head of the Indian Wushu Association, and an unnamed retired high court judge will serve as the panel's chairman.

After the protest originally started in January, the IOA and the government were able to appease the wrestlers by promising to look into their claims against Sharan and the WFI. The Central government provided the protesting wrestlers the opportunity to state their case before the oversight committee, according to Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, who also reaffirmed the government's commitment to conducting an "impartial probe" into the allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

However, the athletes, including legendary wrestler Bajrang Punia, claim that nothing has been done to address their problems thus far. "There is only one problem. The protest is being held because nothing has been done thus far. Bajrang Punia, a wrestler, declared, "We are here to defend wrestling.