Opposition leaders attack BJP after Brij Bhushan’s acquittal

Opposition leaders on Monday attacked the ruling BJP over the acquittal of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case filed by six women wrestlers, alleging that empowerment of youth and women is just “lip service” for its Government.

A Delhi court on Monday acquitted former BJP MP Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in the case that dates back to 2023, when women wrestlers protested at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for 36 days, demanding action against Singh, then WFI chief.

Reacting to Singh’s acquittal, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “On one hand they say that they are with the youth, there is talk of women’s empowerment and women’s reservation, and on the other hand there is this.”

Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal said the real character of the BJP has been exposed.

“It is our misfortune that a deaf, mute and blind Government sits in power. The true face of the BJP is unfortunately right before all of us.

“As a citizen of India, I am deeply hurt by this decision, and I stand firmly with all our sisters and athletes.... Instead of justice, the perpetrator has been given a medal of acquittal around his neck. This country will never forgive you.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said when the distraught women wrestlers were “protesting and crying”, not even women BJP members went to sympathise with them. He dismissed Singh’s claim that the case was foisted on him as part of a conspiracy.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said the law should be allowed to take its course.

“I don’t want to comment on court judgments... The important thing is that the process of justice should be allowed to function. Accusations are made, and consequences follow, but justice must be seen doing its course.

“If an appeal is filed, we will have to see what the next stage produces. If there is no appeal, then certainly he should be treated as someone who has been honourably discharged. I don’t think we should right now pass judgements on an ongoing judicial matter,” he said

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s son and BJP MP Karan Bhushan Singh described the court verdict as a “victory of truth” while thanking those who stood by his family during the controversy.

“This is a victory of truth. It is a victory for the young wrestlers. I would like to thank everyone who stood by us and reposed their faith in us.  Today, we are standing strong before the entire country,” he said.

“There was a time when people were forcing us and saying at Jantar Mantar that my father should be hanged, that he should be burnt, and all the parties had come together to say these things. What will they say today?” he said.

“When you label a man a rapist, what does his daughter-in-law or daughter feel? What does his son go through?” he said.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a six-time former MP, was denied a ticket in the 2024 Lok Sabha election by the BJP in the wake of the controversy. Instead, the party fielded his son from Kaiserganj, Uttar Pradesh. 

Karan Bhushan Singh described the verdict as a “slap in the face” of the Congress leaders who had joined the wrestlers’ protest at Jantar Mantar, saying those who had declared his father a “rapist” at the time should either apologise or join the family in celebrating the outcome.

“At that time, you were calling someone a rapist by declaring him guilty.  What answer will you give today?” he said.

“I am his son. At that time, I could not even look at my father, and my father could not look at me or face me. You had labelled him a rapist. His wife, such a simple and straightforward woman, could not show her face. His daughter could not show her face. Who will answer for this today?” he said. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar acquitted ex-BJP MP Singh and Tomar in the sexual harassment case filed by six women wrestlers, including World Championships medallist Vinesh Phogat, on the grounds of lack of evidence and inconsistent and contradictory testimonies of witnesses, according to the defence counsel.

Speaking to reporters outside the court, Singh said the court had “honourably” acquitted him and Tomar.

“On the first day, I had said that if any allegation against me was proved, I would hang myself. The court has now honourably acquitted me. I am happy and grateful to my lawyers,” he said.

“For now, this is all I can say. I will comment further after going through the court’s reasoned order,” the ex-BJP MP added.

Phogat said that the women wrestlers who had filed a sexual harassment case against Singh will appeal against a Delhi court’s decision to acquit him.

“From the very beginning, the entire administration, the Government, and the system have been engaged in protecting Brij Bhushan,” Phogat posted on ‘X’.

“We are deeply saddened that the court did not find Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh guilty of the allegations of sexual violence made by the women wrestlers.”

“The women wrestlers have instructed their lawyers to appeal against this decision, and the appeal will be filed as soon as possible. We have not lost hope, and the wrestlers will continue their fight,” Phogat said.

Based on the complaints filed by the six wrestlers, Delhi police registered a first information report (FIR) against Singh on June 15, 2023.

The CPI(ML) Liberation said the BJP’s “ rhetoric of women’s empowerment has rung hollow repeatedly”.

The acquittal of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh by a Delhi court “is not only blatantly unjust, but exposes the BJP’s sustenance of political patronage and the impunity of its leaders, who have time and again enjoyed unabated protection”, the Left party alleged.