Watch: Brinda Karat beating a retreat during wrestlers’ protest  over sexual harassment

Senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat had to beat a retreat when she arrived at the venue of a New Delhi protest over  sexual harassment on Thursday.

“Madam mike kisi ko nahi milega (we won’t give the mike to anybody),” said Olympian and 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medalist Bajrang Punia when he saw Karat and AIDWA Delhi President on the stage. “Neeche uttar jayee (Please step down)… Request you to please step down from the stage and please do not make this into a political issue,” Punia who was addressing the wrestlers said after interrupting his speech.

He repeated the request a couple of times again.

Wrestlers have been protesting  from Thursday  against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Charan Singh and other officials alleging several grapplers have been sexually exploited for several years.

Karat along with  a colleague had arrived at the protest site to express her solidarity with the wrestlers.

Earlier wrestling champion  Babita Phogat who had joined the Haryana government had met the protesting wrestlers, saying she had a message from the Centre.

“I have assured them that the government is with them. I will try to ensure that their issues are resolved today,” Babita Phogat said after addressing the gathering.