Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur assured protesters on Thursday that strict action would be taken if a Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) coach or official is found guilty. Thakur met the wrestlers including Babita Phogat, Sakchi malik, Bajrang Punia among others after their second day of protest at the Jantar Mantar over allegations of sexual misconduct by Wrestling Federation of India coaches and its president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
At the rally, which began around 10pm on Thursday night, the protesting wrestlers demanded the resignation of Brij Bhushan and the dissolution of the WFI. However, Thakur said they would have to wait for an official response from the WFI requested by the Ministry of Sports on Wednesday. But the wrestlers are unwilling to settle for anything less than the resignation of the WFI president.
The center had made it clear in a statement Wednesday that if the WFI does not respond within the next three days, the sports ministry will “take action against the federation in terms of the provisions of the National Sports Development Code, 2011.”
Earlier, Vinesh Phogat, the first Indian female wrestler to win gold in both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, said they have not received a “satisfactory response” from the government.
“Unfortunately we didn’t get a satisfactory answer. Yesterday we had 1-2 victims among us, but now we have 5-6 wrestlers, who were harassed (sexually). We can’t name them now, after all they are daughters and sisters of someone. But if we are forced to reveal their identities, it will be a black day,” said Vinesh, a two-time World Cup medalist.
“It’s not just about his (Brij Bhushan) resignation. We will send him to jail. We didn’t want to go the legal way, because we were hoping for a solution, but if there is no proper solution, we will file FIRs against the President. We are World Cup and Olympic medalists, don’t suspect us, we tell the truth, believe us.”
Vinesh Phogat had previously alleged that coaches who are Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) favorites misbehave towards and harass female wrestlers. She also accused WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually exploiting female athletes and calling her a ‘khota sikka’ following her defeat at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Singh has denied the allegations.
WFI Executive Meeting
Also, a meeting of the WFI’s Executive Committee and Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled for January 22 in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh and its chief Singh will attend. Olympic wrestler Bajrang Punia said, “Five to six female wrestlers are here with us who have faced these atrocities and we have evidence to prove it.”
Earlier, some of the ace wrestlers went to the Union Sports Ministry office in Shashtri Bhawan to meet with ministry officials. However, they remained dissatisfied.
Olympic bronze medalist Sakshi Malik said, “The government has not promised any action, they have only given certainty and we are not happy with the answer. We are asking Prime Minister to ensure justice.”
Former wrestler and Haryana BJP leader Babita Phogat reached the protest venue on Thursday to meet the wrestlers as a government mediator and assured the wrestlers that their demands will be met. “I have assured them that the government is behind them. I will try to solve their problems today,” said Babita.
“Babita Phogat has come from the government side for mediation. We will talk to her and then give more details,” said wrestler Bajrang Punia.
With PTI and ANI inputs
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