Srinagar: Top wrestler’s of Country who are demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh have spent more than ₹5 lakh in five days for arranging items like mattresses, bed sheets, fans, speakers apart from water and food at Jantar Mantar.
“We decided to buy mattresses. I bought 80 mattresses from my village Kharkhoda by paying ₹50,000. We were being charged 12000 a day for all the mattresses. That’s a huge sum,” Somvir Rathi, husband of Vinesh Phogat was quoted by PTI.
“Initially, we had taken speakers and microphones on rent, but the one-day cost was ₹12,000. It was too much. Now we have bought our own sound system from Chandni Chowk market for ₹60,000”.
“The shopkeeper was nice. He knew that athletes are on the road so he gave us the system on a not-for-profit basis,” he added.
A few items like fans and generators are still on rent — both at a combined amount of about ₹10,000 a day.
“We will buy coolers if the need arises. It’s very hot out there. We had brought ₹two lakh cash with us but have already spent about 5-6 lakh rupees so far.”
While Vinesh, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia are the face of the protest, people like the unassuming Somvir, his friend Yogesh (Bharat Kesri) and several others are working day and night to keep the protest going.