Anurag Thakur, a Union Minister, urged the wrestlers to call off the wrestlers protest today and show their trust in law and order, noting that the Supreme Court has rendered its decision and that the Delhi Police is also taking statements in the case. Several top wrestlers have been protesting at the Jantar Mantar, accusing Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the head of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), of sexual harassment and calling for his arrest.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has established an ad hoc committee to manage the Wrestling Federation’s daily operations. Athletes’ trials have begun, according to the Union Sports Minister, Anurag Thakur.
The Delhi Police has filed an FIR and is gathering testimony from protesting wrestlers in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, and Haryana aimed at Wrestling Federation of India head Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh after receiving a complaint from the protesting wrestlers. The magistrate is also recording statements. Anurag Thakur said that the wrestlers should stop protesting and have trust in the justice system.
Interim Committee of WFI
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announced earlier on April 24 that an ad hoc committee will be formed to manage the day-to-day operations of the organisation, including deciding on participants and participation in international competitions.
The committee will conduct selections for the Executive Committee of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) within 45 days of its formation. Until the newly formed Executive Committee assumes control, this committee will continue to work in an interim capacity.
The reason behind Wrestlers Protest
Many female wrestlers came forward to criticise the WFI president and accuse him of harassing them sexually. BJP MP Singh should be detained and expelled from the wrestling organisation, as demanded by the wrestlers protesting who are still camping out in front of Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. The Delhi Police is in touch with overseas bodies to find out more about the allegations he was the target of while travelling abroad.
The application filed by female wrestlers about the alleged incident involving WFI President and BJP Member of Parliament Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was updated on Friday by Delhi Police. A special investigation team became operational to look into the situation. The Supreme Court ordered the creation of an “oversight committee” to investigate claims made aimed at the WFI, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and a few trainers.
On April 23, renowned wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, and Sakshi Mallik headed back to the Jantar Mantar – wrestlers protest site, claiming that despite a complaint of sexual harassment directed at Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh being made by six female wrestlers and a minor at Connaught Place Police Station, Delhi Police did not file an FIR.
No support was shown from Female MPs towards wrestlers protesting
Vinesh Phogat, an Asian Games gold medalist, states that no female MPs from the BJP, the ruling party, have visited the wrestlers protest at Jantar Mantar to offer support in their battle for women’s dignity.
She plans to personally deliver or email letters along with other wrestlers urging all female lawmakers from the ruling party to show up and stand with them, as they are their daughters and should be advocating for them.
Brij Bhusan Sharan Singh denies allegations
WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has refuted all of the allegations and claimed that wrestler Bajrang Punia requested that someone “arrange a girl” to file a POCSO statute complaint alleging sexual harassment.
He said that the powers behind the “Tukde Tukde Gang,” “Shaheen Bagh,” and “Kisaan Andolan” were behind the protest of the wrestlers. These sportspeople have been paid; the BJP, not me, is their intended target. They are seeking to destabilise UP and Haryana; the wrestlers protest is growing like Shaheen Bagh, Singh stated in an interview.
