WFI controversy: Wrestlers to stop protests, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to step aside till probe is completed

The wrestlers who have been protesting against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said on Friday that they will call off their agitation.

Further, Sports minister Anurag Thakur said the WFI president will step aside from his post until the probe into the allegations against him is completed. The investigation is expected to go on for four weeks.

Addressing a press conference late on Friday night, Anurag Thakur said he had been talking with the protesting wrestlers for seven hours. He said all of them have presented their allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

“We ensure that answers will be sought and action will be taken,” said the sports minister while announcing that an ‘oversight committee’ will be set up by the ministry to look into the case involving the WFI.

The committee will complete their investigation in four weeks and till then, the WFI president will step aside from his day-to-day responsibilities while cooperating in the investigation. Sources told India Today that the wrestlers who have been protesting for days said they will not protest till the report by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) comes out.

Earlier, the IOA formed a seven-member committee to probe the allegations of sexual harassment against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Bronze medalist Bajrang Punia said, “We are sure that there will be a fair investigation. In the past too, the players have received threats from the WFI head.”

WHAT IS THE CONTROVERSY?

Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and a number of wrestlers have been holding protests against the wrestling body and its chief at the national capital’s Jantar Mantar. Phogat has alleged that the WFI president had been sexually harassing women wrestlers. Singh has denied all allegations, stating, “Sexual harassment never happened. If even one athlete comes forward and proves this, I will hang myself.”

Demanding Singh’s resignation over allegations of molestation and harassment, the players have alleged that several coaches at the national camp in UP’s Lucknow had exploited women wrestlers.

The protesting wrestlers have outrightly stated they would not withdraw their demonstrations until the government accepted their demands. “We expect the prime minister to pay attention to the demands,” Phogat said.