Wrestlers return to Jantar Mantar and demand action on sexual abuse allegations against WFI chief Brij Bhushan

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Bajrang Punia addresses the media on Sunday | ANI

New Delhi: After staging a protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on January 18 this year, wrestlers have again returned to Jantar Mantar. This time they are hoping to get the attention of the Ministry of Sports as they believe nothing has been done so far regarding their allegations of sexual abuse and dictatorship against Singh.

Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia were among the wrestlers at Jantar Mantar on Sunday and Punia confirmed to ThePrint by phone on Sunday that female wrestlers filed sexual harassment charges against Singh at Parliament Street Police Station in New Delhi. While Punia could not confirm how many wrestlers had complained, a source put the number at seven.

Following the January protest, the Ministry of Sports had formed an oversight committee headed by Mary Kom to investigate the allegations and monitor the day-to-day running of the WFI and submit its report within four weeks. The committee was appointed on January 23.

According to sources within the Federation, the report was submitted to the ministry despite having passed the deadline. The findings of the report have not yet been made public. The ministry has yet to issue a statement on the report.

A recent PTI report had speculated that the sexual harassment allegations against Singh could not be proven. Senior Vice President of WFI ID Nanavati had confirmed to ThePrint that Singh received a clear mark in the report.

After the committee was formed, Vinesh Phogat questioned its transparency when Yogeshwar Dutt was inducted into it. Then Babita Phogat was included in the committee.

Last week, she and other protesters spoke to the media and said publicly that their attempts to call Sports Minister Anurag Thakur or Mary Kom for an update on the investigation report had not elicited a response. .

Meanwhile, Vinesh tweeted that the police did not file an FIR despite some female wrestlers filing a complaint on April 21 this year.

She also alleged that the whole system supports Singh and no one dares to speak out against the mafia.

From April 16-18, the National Championships in the U-17 category as well as the Senior Open National Ranking Wrestling Tournament were held in Gonda, the home of the Singhs.

The venue was Nandini Nagar Mahavidyalaya, a college of which Singh is the president.

It was the first tournament organized by the WFI since January 21, when the central government suspended all activities of the body. That day, the federation’s deputy secretary, Vinod Tomar, was also suspended.

Vinesh also expressed his displeasure with this event. Sharing a video of the event, apparently chaired by Singh, Vinesh asked God to take care of the country.

According to reports, Singh confirmed on April 16 that according to the 2011 sports code, he cannot run for president because he has completed three terms in the position.

However, he hopes to get a different portfolio at WFI.

To this, one of the protesters told ThePrint on condition of anonymity, Yes, under the 2011 sports code, after completing 12 years as head of the WFI, Singh cannot compete for the top job. pupil. However, he plans to nominate his son for president. Thus, the cycle of harassment and dictatorship will not stop. The WFI will hold the election for the position of President on May 7.

(Edited by Smriti Sinha)

Also read: WFI Harassment Panel Received 0 Complaints in 2 Years. Coaches question Sakshi Maliks role as member

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