Outrageous that the protesting wrestlers have been brutally manhandled

Statement issued by Amarjeet Kaur General Secretary, AITUC, and Mariam Dhawale, General Secretary, AIDWA

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AITUC condemns the oppression let loose on the women wrestlers and all those who were at Jantar Mantar at the protest site or were proceeding towards the site to join in the women panchayat which had been called today to press for their demand for justice, arrest of Mr Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh alleged for sexual harrassment in the FIRs against him including under POCSO Act.
The RSS- BJP government led by Mr Narendra Modi is further exposed of its facade of 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padao' slogan as well as its naked expression of intolerant towards any criticism, opposition or even raising voice for seeking justice under the rule of law and constitutional rights.
We demand of immediate arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, release of all those arrested, justice to women wrestlers who through their voice have raised the voice of women who face harrassments at different levels but are restrained to ask for justice.

AITUC calls upon its units to organise protests against this oppressive, undemocratic act on the part of Delhi Police on instance of the ruling regime.

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AIDWA strongly condemns the repression unleashed by the Modi government. The detention of people going to Mahila Samman Panchayat at the New Parliament Building today reveals its authoritarian face. The police have been detaining activists and leaders from their residences and while walking towards the Parliament.
It is outrageous that the protesting wrestlers have been brutally manhandled by the police and arrested. Their protest site has been dismantled and destroyed by the police.
AIDWA Vice President Subhashini Ali, Jagmati Sangwan, Delhi President Maimoona Mollah, Annie Raja (NFIW), Poonam Kaushik (PMS) and others have been arrested with other women activists.
Along with hundreds of women, activists of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and Students Federation of India (SFI) have also been detained. Bus-loads of farmers from the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) are being prevented from entering Delhi.
Those who had already reached Jantar Mantar broke through the police barricade and pushed toward the new parliament, facing more police crackdown along the way. The internet is down in central Delhi.
AIDWA stands in solidarity with wrestlers and all activists who are safeguarding democracy by supporting the movement. We demand that the arrested wrestlers and all those detained be released forthwith.

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