In this episode of Editorial, HW News Managing Editor speaks on the acquittal of BJP leader Brij Bhushan Singh in the wrestlers' sexual harassment case.
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[00:00:00] I wonder whether all those young wrestlers, those young girls, those men, Olympic players, professional wrestlers, people who had a fabulous career in front of them, all these people went on the ground, fought for their rights, fought to get this man out, all because they wanted one MP, a local MP from Uttar Pradesh,
[00:00:29] to be unseated, all that they risked their entire career in telling a girl child that it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter, till such time that a man is powerful and a man is popular, he can do anything, this is what you are telling a girl child that this is a dangerous trend in our country. Namaskar, welcome to another episode of Editorial.
[00:00:58] Bridge Bhushan Charant Singh, the former wrestling federation of India's President, he has been acquitted of all sexual harassment, sexual assault charges. This was done by a Delhi court and according to his lawyer, his lawyer because the Delhi courts didn't allow media to come in, so you have to go by his lawyer, his lawyer says that he was given honourable equity.
[00:01:29] In fact, reacting to this, Mr. Singh said that what I said initially has turned out to be right. I don't know about people against me. I had said that I will hang myself if the court acquit me with honour. It is a matter of joy for me and my supporters. Today is a happy day. This is what he had to say. Okay.
[00:01:58] Now, the thing is, court's verdict, nobody can question. Of course, it's court's verdict and I'm sure the court is always right. I wonder, a few questions come to mind, which is why I thought I will share this with you. Well, today is not my editorial day, but you know, I still thought I would want to come in front of you and speak to you. For two reasons.
[00:02:24] One is, I wonder whether all those young wrestlers, those young girls, those men, Olympic players, professional wrestlers, people who had a fabulous career in front of them. All these people went on the ground, fought for their rights, fought to get this man out.
[00:02:50] All because they wanted one MP, a local MP from Uttar Padesh to be unseated. All that, they risked their entire career. They were supposed to give back their medals. They wanted, they risked everything and they still did. Because some of the players are not able to come back. The way they, some of the most, most famous players, they're still not able to come back.
[00:03:15] They still, they still claim, people like Pogart, they still claim that they are being singled out. These people risked their entire career just to blame one MP? Is that the way it is? Was there no truth in whatever they said? Was there no truth? A POXO case being launched first, then the POXO case being taken back.
[00:03:40] Was it all because genuinely everybody felt everything was fair, everything was clean, everything was right above the table? Just that others couldn't see it? The way possibly Bridge Bush and Sharan Singh saw it? Is that what the reality is? Like I said, I don't question the court. I don't have the right to question the court. But the fact remains that I still have the right to wonder.
[00:04:09] I still have the right to wonder and I'm still, my questions are what I just said. Was all of this just a figment of imagination? Kids, young athletes, professional athletes, athletes who were superstars risking their everything so that one MP could be unseated like I said? Think about it.
[00:04:37] You see, the point is and the danger is. The danger is larger than what we are seeing. And I don't know why our country, our community doesn't see it. You see, every time a Ram Rahim Singh, a convicted rapist gets up for lock and walks out and celebrates outside, you're telling an Indian child, a girl child that she's unsafe.
[00:05:02] You're telling the message that goes to that girl child is that, listen, anybody can do anything and get away with it. Anybody can do anything and get away with it. Nobody is there to question you. Nobody is there to protect you. That's the message that you're sending to that girl child. Please understand this.
[00:05:20] You see, if an Asaram, that person who is also a convicted rapist, if he roams around the streets and people still go folding hands and falling at his feet, you're telling a girl child that it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. It is such a time that a man is powerful and a man is popular. He can do anything. This is what you're telling a girl child that this is a dangerous trend in our country.
[00:05:49] What society are we building? What are we trying to create here? And that's the worry. And it's happening too often. Too often. Too often. Bilkis, Banu, rapists, killers, they were almost back on the streets.
[00:06:11] They were almost back on the streets and they were ministers who actually endorsed the decision by saying, you know, it's part of the law. It happens. So big deal. They got it. So what? So what? They're rapists. Nobody bothered to ask that. Nobody bothered to say that. Nobody bothered to say that. And that's the problem that I see here today.
[00:06:36] And finally, finally, let me also tell you something which is really hurting. You see, what really happens here is somewhere down the line as a society, I think, we are almost tolerating rapists. We are almost tolerating crime against women. We are almost tolerating people who do something wrong. People who wrong women. We are tolerating it.
[00:07:05] And we are telling, we are sending a message that it is okay. We need to do that. And that is one of the most dangerous trends that we are setting. If a girl child says something, does something wrong, then she is made to apologize in front of the entire world. Fold her hands and tell the entire world how sorry she is. But if a guy does something wrong, he gets for love. How fair is this?
[00:07:32] You see, like I say again, I have nobody to say that Bridge Bush and Sharon Singh's decision was right or wrong. I am sure the judge must have thought. I am sure the legal system is thinking. And I am sure that there will be decisions. There will be other steps taken by senior courts. I am sure. And I hope that happens. But you know, to be very honest, to whatever little I understand, justice has to be seen as done. Justice has not just to be done. It has to be seen as done.
[00:08:01] Because that's what law is all about. At least to me, today justice, I didn't see justice as done. Because I have lots of questions that are still unanswered. A lot of questions. First, they refused to file an FIRA against this gentleman. Then they refused to kind of, you know, then once the minister had to be involved, the ministry had to be involved, then they filed an FIRA. And now he is acquitted. What does all of this mean?
[00:08:31] I wonder. That's the point I wanted to make a short retort. Like I said, I wanted to come in front of you and speak about this is because this is important. This is important not just for us. This is not just important for the girl children, for those wrestlers who fought, who risked their careers. It's important for our community. It's important for India. It's important for our society. That's why I wanted to come in front of you and talk about this. Till I see you next time. That's tomorrow at 10. Thanks.