Women Wrestlers Back at Jantar Mantar: Allegations Against WFI Chief & Why they are Agitating Now

As high wrestlers resumed their protest on Sunday over the problem of sexual harassment allegations towards WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the Delhi Police mentioned it has acquired seven complaints from them and was conducting an inquiry, even because it was issued a discover by the Delhi Commission For Women for failing to register an FIR within the matter.

Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and different wrestlers returned to the protest web site at Jantar Mantar right here demanding that the federal government make public the findings of the oversight panel that investigated the allegations towards the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief.

The wrestlers, together with Sakshi Malik and Ravi Dahiya, had in January raised the problem, however ended their three-day lengthy sit-in after marathon talks with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had introduced the five-member oversight committee, headed by legendary boxer M C Mary Kom, to look into the allegations.

The Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) on Sunday mentioned it has acquired a criticism from the ladies wrestlers alleging that they had given a written criticism to the town police two days again, however no FIR had not been registered until now.

Why Had the Wrestlers Protested in January?

In an unprecedented transfer, the nation’s high wrestlers, together with Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia and world championship medallist Vinesh Phogat, had staged a protest towards the “dictatorship” of national federation President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in January this year.

At the time, the wrestlers did not share the exact details of their grievances or their demands but it was clear that they were fed up with the way the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is being run by Singh, who is also a BJP MP from Kaiserganj.

Bajrang’s support staff, including his coach Sujeet Mann and physio Anand Dubey had also joined the protest. “The dictatorship will not be tolerated,” mentioned one other wrestler.

Later within the day, a crying Vinesh Phogat had alleged that Brij Bhushan has been sexually exploiting girls wrestlers for a few years, a cost vehemently rejected by the sports activities administrator and BJP MP.

Vinesh, who has been at loggerheads with WFI for the reason that Tokyo Olympic Games, additionally claimed that a number of coaches at the nationwide camp in Lucknow have additionally exploited girls wrestlers, including there are a couple of girls at the camp who approached the wrestlers at the behest of the WFI President.

The 28-year-old although clarified that she herself by no means confronted such exploitation however claimed that “one sufferer” was present at the ‘dharna’ they began at Jantar Mantar in January.

So disturbed was Vinesh that she along with Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang Punia had even met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to flag their issues about three months back, she had said at the time.

Vinesh also claimed that she had received death threats at the behest of WFI President from officials close to him because she dared to draw Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attention to several issues plaguing Indian wrestling when she met him after the Tokyo Games.

“I know at least 10-20 women wrestlers who have told me about the sexual exploitation they faced at the hands of (the) WFI President. They told me their stories. I can’t take their names now but I can definitely reveal the names if we get to meet the Prime Minister and the Home Minister of the country,” Vinesh had mentioned addressing the media after staging a four-hour ‘dharna’ at Jantar Mantar.

“I’ve acquired demise threats from individuals who are near the WFI President. If something occurs to any of us sitting right here, solely the WFI President will likely be accountable.”

Rio Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik, world championship medallist Sarita Mor, Sangeeta Phogat, Anshu Malik, Sonam Malik, Satyawart Malik, Jitender Kinha, Amit Dhankar and CWG medallist Sumit Malik were among 30 wrestlers who had assembled at the famous protest site.

Committee Formed But Report Not Made Public

After the protest and allegations, a committee was formed by the government, led by boxer MC Mary Kom on January 23 to investigate the claims made by the country’s top wrestlers.

The names of the alleged victims had not been disclosed by the wrestlers. The committee, which oversaw the day-to-day operations of the sporting organisation, was given four weeks to produce its findings.

Following pleas from the committee members, the government extended the deadline, and it was set to deliver its report by March 9, according to a report by Outlook.

However, the wrestlers returned to the protest site Jantar Mantar and demanded that the government makes public the findings of the oversight panel that investigated into sexual harassment allegations against Singh.

The wrestlers, surrounded by a huge posse of police personnel, also demanded that an FIR be lodged against the WFI boss.

The six-member oversight panel, headed by legendary boxer MS Mary Kom, had submitted its report in the first week of April but the government has not yet made it public.

“How long is it going to take for the (government) committee to submit its report. It’s already been three months and we are still waiting to hear from them. Will the report come out after the girls, who have filed complaints, die?,” questioned Vinesh, the world championship medallist.

“We are uninterested in asking the federal government to launch the findings. We have filed a criticism at a police station in Connaught Place and need an FIR to be filed towards Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

“We don’t have anything to do with the (WFI) election course of. We are extra involved about our careers. The (Paris) Olympics are upon us and we need to start preparations in proper earnest,” she added.

Singh, who has completed 12 years as WFI president, has confirmed that he will not contest for the top post in the WFI election on May 7.

With inputs from PTI

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