Anurag Thakur has claimed that the protesting wrestlers got likelihood to current their case (Twitter Image)
Union sports activities minister Anurag Thakur has reiterated that an ‘neutral probe’ shall be performed amid prices of sexual assault towards WFI president Bhushan Sharan Singh
Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday stated the federal government gave probabilities to all of the protesting wrestlers to current their case earlier than the oversight committee, and reiterated its dedication to an “neutral probe” into the charges against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Decorated wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik are the three central characters in the renewed protests against the Wrestling Federation of India president, who has been accused of sexual harassment and intimidation by the grapplers.
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“A few wrestlers are sitting in protest at Jantar Mantar. I have spent 12 hours hours with them — seven hours on the first day and five hours the next day (in January). I had listened to all their grievances, held a press conference at 2-2.30 at night, formed a committee after talking to them.
“They had asked to add a member and gave Babita Phogat’s name, and we added her to the committee. There is nothing in our mind, we wanted an impartial probe,” Thakur stated at a press convention right here.
“Whoever needed to current their model earlier than the oversight committee, was given an opportunity to achieve this, there have been no restrictions. We even elevated the timeline of the probe, there have been 14 conferences. Whoever needed to come, got here. We gave an opportunity to each athlete to current their case.”
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The grapplers resumed their protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding that an FIR be registered and a thorough probe be conducted by police against Sharan, a BJP MP from Gonda in Uttar Pradesh.
Thakur added, “The major findings of the committee were that an impartial elections of WFI takes place, and till that time an ad-hoc committee takes over the affairs of WFI, and the elections be held under 45 days.
“An internal complaints committee be formed to address any mental, sexual harassment complaint. Not just that we have given the responsibility on IOA to look after all these matters, including selection of teams till the elections are held,” he stated.
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“If anybody desires to file an FIR she or he can do this anyplace and it mustn’t matter how outdated the case could also be. Delhi Police stated that they are going to conduct a preliminary inquiry and after that they are going to take the subsequent step.”
The sports minister reiterated that the top priority of the BJP government will always be sports and well-being of sportspersons.
“Modi government is always with the athletes, and will be always there to promote sports and sportspersons,” Thakur stated.
“Our precedence is sports activities and sportspersons and we are going to by no means compromise on that.”
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