Wrestler Vinesh Phogat beforehand accused WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan of sexual harassment.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Vinesh Phogat has alleged {that a} member of the oversight committee, tasked with investigating the sexual harassment accusations in opposition to coach Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, is leaking sensitive information to the media. This “reckless” behaviour not solely undermines ladies’s dignity and security, but in addition compromises the equity of the MeToo investigation, she wrote in a Twitter put up on February 26 night.
In the put up, Ms. Phogat wrote, “It has come to my recent awareness that a sportsperson member of the Oversight Committee has been allegedly leaking contents of the complaint of sexual harassment while reading certain media reports since yesterday.” She tagged Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur.
Ms. Phogat added this was “reckless” behaviour on the half of the sportsperson and embodies “their attitude” in direction of ladies.
The accusation comes amid an ongoing enmity between the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and wrestlers. On January 18, esteemed wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik come forth with accusations of sexual harassment in opposition to BJP MP and WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Several ladies athletes additionally spoke in regards to the tradition of impunity inside WFI, the place coaches usually harass and misbehave with ladies athletes and coaches — who come from humble origins and do not need the freedom to talk up — with out tangible penalties.
The wrestlers had referred to as off their protest in Jantar Mantar on January 21 after getting assurances from the federal government that their grievances could be addressed, step one of which was the stepping apart of under-fire WFI chief.
Notably, Ms. Phogat states it’s a sportsperson member of the oversight committee that’s compromising the functioning of the investigation.
“It is even more appalling that this sportsperson is a member of both the committees enquiring upon the sexual harassment allegations against high-ranking office bearers of the WFI. All this has placed great mistrust towards the committee proceedings. I am feeling let down at the not just weak but also strategic attempts of this committee member towards what should have been a fair and just investigation,” she added.
Ms. Phogat urged Mr. Thakur to take strict and pressing motion in opposition to the member, and that the mentioned member must be faraway from the committee. “This member has been acting against the interest of women from day one. The lack of empathy and insensitivity displayed by this sportsperson was shocking during the proceedings of the committee. I request this matter to be investigated and all necessary actions to be taken immediately,” she wrote.
The Sports Ministry lately expressed annoyance at prime wrestlers refusing to take part in a number of worldwide occasions amid ongoing tensions with the Wrestling Federation of India.
