Last Updated: January 20, 2023, 09:19 IST
Damning allegations have been made in opposition to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. (Pic Credit: FB/brijbhushansharan)
Top Indian wrestlers have been protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar demanding disbandment of WFI
Under hearth Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will handle media right this moment, vowing to reveal a ‘political conspiracy’ days after high wrestlers from the nation levelled critical allegations him.
In a short Facebook publish, Brij Bhushan invited media for a press convention on the Wrestling Training Centre in Nawabganj in Gonda district, Uttar Pradesh to “expose conspiracy against wrestling and dignity of female wrestlers” on Friday afternoon (12 PM IST).
Also Read: Wrestlers Protest Live Updates
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat has accused the WFI chief of sexual harassment, an allegation which Brij Bhushan has denied. While Vinesh said she herself never faced any such exploitation but claimed a victim was present at their ‘dharna’ which began on Wednesday.
Earlier, Indian wrestlers’ meeting with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur remained inconclusive on Thursday night as they refused to back down from their demand that the government immediately disband WFI.
The marathon meeting began around 10 pm on Thursday, the second day of the wrestlers’ protest against WFI president Brij Bhushan. The wrestlers left Thakur’s house at 1:45 am and did not speak to the reporters waiting outside.
Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia, Ravi Dahiya, Sakshi Malik and world championship medallist Vinesh Phogat were part of the meeting.
Thakur flew to Delhi from Himachal Pradesh after an earlier meeting between government officials and the protesting wrestlers remained inconclusive.
The wrestlers will meet the Sports minister again on Friday, according to government officials. The ministry cannot force Brij Bhushan to resign unless it receives a written reply from the WFI since the government itself has asked the wrestling body for an explanation.
The WFI is yet to respond to the Sports Ministry, which on Wednesday gave the wrestling body 72 hours to respond to allegations of sexual harassment of several woman athletes and intimidation by its president.
According to sources, the government wants the wrestlers to end their protest but the athletes are adamant that the WFI should be disbanded first.
”The authorities can resolve different points later. We are high quality with that, however it should disband the WFI first,” a supply near the wrestlers advised PTI.
A team of wrestlers, including Bajrang, Vinesh, Anshu Malik, Sakshi and her husband Satyawrat Kadiyan met government officials earlier on Thursday and discussed their issues with Sports Secretary Sujata Chaturvedi and Sports Authority of India Director General Sandip Pradhan.
During the hour-long meeting, the wrestlers were asked to end their protest and assured that their grievances will be addressed. Former wrestler and BJP leader Babita Phogat was also part of the meeting to break the deadlock.
With PTI Inputs
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(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed)
