The ongoing wrestlers’ protest in opposition to Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, on May 14, 2023.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The protesting wrestlers on May 14 termed the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) decision to take charge of all of the actions of the Wrestling Federation of India because the “first step” in their fight in opposition to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the previous WFI chief.
The nation’s high wrestlers, have been protesting on the Jantar Mantar for the final 22 days demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan for his alleged sexual harassment of girls wrestlers.
Also learn: Wrestlers vs WFI sexual harassment row | From Jantar Mantar to the Supreme Court, the story to this point
The IOA, by its letter on May 12, requested the secretary basic of WFI to hand over the official paperwork together with monetary devices to its ad-hoc panel, making it clear the outgoing workplace bearers shall don’t have any position in the operating of the federation.
The WFI mentioned it has no points in obeying the IOA order since they had been already co-operating with the authorities.
“This (the dissolution of the current WFI) is the first step in our fight for justice. Our fight has begun in right earnest, it’s a victory for us… and we will continue or fight until we get justice,” mentioned a protesting wrestler.
Another wrestler rued that not a single ruling occasion’s parliamentarian had met the wrestlers “to extend support in our fight for the dignity of women”.
She mentioned that from Monday onwards the wrestlers will give letters by hand or by way of e-mail to all girls parliamentarians of the ruling occasion to come and assist them.
“When they talk about the safety of women in the country, then we too are their daughters and they should come out and support us,” she mentioned.
The IOA’s three-member ad-hoc committee has made it clear that the method to elect new WFI workplace bearers might be accomplished inside the 45-day timeframe and that the charge might be handed again to the elected physique.
“Once the elections will be held, the administrative powers will go back to the WFI. The newly elected officials will run the show. It’s just a temporary move that ad-hoc is managing the affairs of the federation,” an official advised PTI.
