Women wrestlers return to Jantar Mantar: Allegations against WFI chief and why they are agitating now

Top wrestlers on Sunday resumed their protest over the issue of sexual harassment allegations against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, with the Delhi Police saying it has received seven complaints from them and is probing, even as A notice was also issued by Delhi. Commission for Women for failing to register an FIR in the matter. Read the latest updates on the story here

Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and other wrestlers returned to the protest site at Jantar Mantar here demanding that the government make public the findings of the inspection panel probing the allegations against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief.

Wrestlers including Sakshi Malik and Ravi Dahiya raised the issue in January but ended their three-day strike after marathon talks with the union. Play Minister Anurag Thakur had announced a five-member inspection committee headed by boxing legend MC Mary Kom to probe the allegations.

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Sunday said it has received complaints from women wrestlers alleging that they had given a written complaint to the city police two days ago, but no FIR has been registered so far.

Why did the wrestlers protest in January?

In an unprecedented move, the country’s top wrestlers, including Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Bajrang Punia and World Championship medalist Vinesh Phogat, had in January this year protested against the “dictatorship” of national federation president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

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

Bajrang’s support staff, his coach Sujit Mann and physio Anand Dubey also joined the protest. Another wrestler said, “Dictatorship will not be tolerated.”

later in the day, Crying Vinesh Phogat alleged that Brij Bhushan has been sexually abusing women wrestlers for many yearsThis allegation was rejected outright by the sports administrator and the BJP MP.

Vinesh, who has been at loggerheads with the WFI since the Tokyo Olympic Games, also claimed that several coaches at the national camp in Lucknow have also abused women wrestlers, adding that there are some women in the camp who, at the behest of the wrestlers, sexually assaulted the wrestlers. contacted. WFI President.

The 28-year-old, however, clarified that she herself never faced such abuse, but claimed that “a victim” was present at the ‘dharna’ that began at Jantar Mantar in January.

He had said at the time that Vinesh was so upset that she along with Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Bajrang Punia had also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah three months ago to raise their issues.

Vinesh also claimed that she had received death threats from officials close to her at the behest of the WFI president after she tried to draw Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attention to several issues related to Indian wrestling when she met him after the Tokyo Games. Took the courage

“I know at least 10-20 women wrestlers who have told me about sexual harassment at the hands of the WFI president. He told me his stories. Addressing the media after a four-hour dharna at Jantar Mantar, Vinesh said, “I cannot name them now, but I can definitely reveal the names if we meet the country’s prime minister and home minister. ” ,

“I have received death threats from people who are close to the WFI president. If anything happens to any of us sitting here, the WFI president will be held responsible.”

Rio Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik, World Championship medalist Sarita Mor, Sangeeta Phogat, Anshu Malik, Sonam Malik, Satyawart Malik, Jitendra Kinha, Amit Dhankhar and CWG medalist Sumit Malik were among the 30 wrestlers who assembled at the famous protest site. Had happened

Committee formed but report not public

Following protests and allegations, a committee was formed by the government under the leadership of boxer MC Mary Kom on 23 January to probe the claims made by the country’s top wrestlers.

The names of the alleged victims were not disclosed by the wrestlers. The committee that oversees the day-to-day running of the sports body was given four weeks to submit its findings.

Following pleas from the committee members, the government extended the deadline, and was set to submit its report by March 9, according to a report outlook,

However, the wrestlers returned to the protest site at Jantar Mantar and demanded that the government make public the findings of the inspection panel probing the sexual harassment allegations against Singh.

The wrestlers, surrounded by a large number of policemen, also demanded registration of an FIR against the WFI chief.

The six-member monitoring committee headed by veteran boxer MS Mary Kom submitted its report in the first week of April but the government is yet to make it public.

“How much time is the (government) committee going to take to submit its report. It’s been three months and we are still waiting to hear from them. Will the report come when the girls who complained are dead?” asked Vinesh, a world championship medallist.

“We are tired of asking the government to release the findings. We have filed a complaint at a police station in Connaught Place and want to file an FIR against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

“We (WFI) have nothing to do with the election process. We are more concerned about our career. The (Paris) Olympics are upon us and we want to start preparations in the right direction,” he added.

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

With inputs from PTI

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