Our protest is not politically motivated: Sakshi and her husband Satyawart

Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik and her wrestler husband Satyawart Kadian on Saturday insisted that their protest was not politically motivated and they kept mum for years despite facing harassment because the wrestling fraternity was not united earlierIn a video posted on Twitter Kadian said a false narrative was being created around their protest and they wanted to clear the airCountrys top wrestlers including Malik Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia accused outgoing Wrestling Federation of India WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment and intimidationLeaders from different political parties including Congress Priyanka Gandhi Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former JampK Governor Satya Pal Malik visited the protest site extending their support to the wrestlers before they were removed from Jantar Mantar on May 28Kadian sitting beside Malik said rumours were being spread about their protestLet me make it clear that our protest is not politicallymotivated We came to Jantar Mantar in January and permission was taken by two BJP leaders seeking police permission Kadian said and asked Malik to show the letter seeking permission for protestIt was written by former wrestler Babita Phogat and Teerath Rana who are both associated with the BJPThis protest is not Congress supported More than 90 per cent people in wrestling fraternity knew that for last 1012 years it harassment and intimidation has been going on A few people wanted to raise their voices but wrestling fraternity was not united he saidKadian who competes in heavyweight category reiterated that their fight is against the WFI chief and not against the governmentMalik said they were silent for years because wresters were not united You have seen that the minor has retracted her statement Her family was intimidatedThese wrestlers come from poor families Its not easy to muster courage to take on a powerful man the Rio Games bronze medallist saidKadian said the police brutality they faced on May 28 broke them The police had detained them and pushed them into buses an action that faced criticism from all quartersThe wrestlers were booked for violating law and order as they marched towards the new parliament building without permissionLet me make it clear that the call for Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat was made by the Khap leaders and we followed their order and faced police brutality That broke usWe won so many medals for country and our dignity was being trampled I cant explain in words what we went throughWe then decided to immerse medals in Haridwar but one man from the tantra system grabbed Bajrangs arm and took him to a corner and made him speak with many influential peopleIf we had done that immersed medals there could have been violence So better sense prevailed We gave the medals to coaches and parentsWe were not in a mental state to understand if theres a conspiracy We had gone their under stress We have just wrestled our whole life did not know how to handle the situationAfter that incident we did not know who was on our side who was part of the system We met a lot of people but did not know whom to trust We were advised to meet the Home Minister we were told that we will get solution from there so we put across our view pointHe also appealed to the Khaps who they believe got angry with them to not believe in rumoursIf we have done something wrong we apologise he said and thanked everyone who came out to support themTowards the end of the 11minute long video Kadian said The system takes advantage when we are not united If you are facing any sort of injustice do raise your voice and stay unitedThe police has filed a chargesheet against Singh charging him under stalking and sexual harassment offences PTI AT AT