The wrestlers including Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia and World medallist Vinesh Phogat have been protesting for more than a month at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

They have been demanding the arrest of the ruling right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment of seven women athletes, including a minor.

"Our Prime Minster, who called us his daughters, didn't consider his daughters' senses and wisdom, and instead invited our harasser to the inauguration of the new parliament building," the wrestlers said in a statement.  

"He was taking pictures there in shiny new clothes.

Where is our place in this shiny system?

Where is the place for India's daughters?

"Have we just become tools for slogans and agendas?

"We don't want these medals anymore because we're made to wear these as a mask for their politics and we're exploited.

"When we speak against that exploitation, they make preparations to put us in jail.

"We will throw the medals in the Ganga, because she is Mother Ganga.

"We consider the Ganga as sacred as the hard work we put in to win these medals.

"These medals are sacred to the entire nation, and to keep them sacred, the best place is Mother Ganga, and not the system, which makes us their mask and makes us stand with our harasser.

"These medals are our lives, our souls. Our lives will have no purpose once the medals are washed away in the Ganga.

"That's why we will sit on fast unto death at India Gate.

"India Gate is the place of our martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country.

"We are not are pure as them, but while competing at the international level our feelings were also like those soldiers. The unholy system is doing its work and we will do ours.

"People will have to think whether they want to stand by these daughters of the nation or with the system which is harassing these daughters."

Recently, the Delhi Police forcefully removed the protesting wrestlers and detained them as they breached the security cordon during the inauguration of the new Parliament on Sunday (May 28).

Special Commissioner Dependra Pathak said they have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against protestors who ignored repeated warnings and "wrestled" with police personnel who tried to stop them.

Visuals of the disturbing tussle between the wrestlers and the police went viral, sparking criticism from sportspersons in the country.

The wrestlers first started the protest in January, demanding action against Singh who has denied all allegations against him.

However, it was called off after the athletes had a dialogue with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, who promised a fast solution.

They resumed the protest on April 23 after inaction from the authorities.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) took over the running of WFI, with a two-person Ad Hoc Committee formed to manage the affairs of the WFI and conduct elections for the national governing body.

Commonwealth Games shooting gold medallist Suma Shirur and IOA Executive Council member Bhupender Singh Bajwa are part of the Committee.

United World Wrestling (UWW) have condemned the "worrying" events from the past few days and the treatment of wrestlers.

The International Federation announced that it will hold a meeting with the wrestlers to "inquire" about their condition.

The governing body also said it will respect the 45-day deadline set for WFI elections and failing to do so would lead to suspension.

"The events of these last days are even more worrying that the wrestlers were arrested and temporarily detained by the police for initiating a march of protest.

"The site where they had been protesting for more than a month has also been cleared out by the authorities.

"UWW firmly condemns the treatment and detention of the wrestlers. It expresses its disappointment over the lack of results of the investigations so far.

"UWW urges the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations.

"As it has already done since the beginning of this situation, UWW will hold a meeting with the wrestlers to inquire about their condition and safety and reconfirm our support for a fair and just resolution of their concerns.

"Finally, UWW will request further information about the next elective general assembly from the IOA and Ad-hoc Committee of the WFI.

"The 45-day deadline that was initially set to hold this elective assembly shall be respected.

"Failing to do so may lead UWW to suspend the federation, thereby forcing the athletes to compete under a neutral flag.

"It is reminded that UWW already took a measure in this situation by reallocating the Asian Championship planned in New Delhi earlier this year."