Lucknow: Amid reports that outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh — accused of sexual harassment by several female wrestlers — may not contest the upcoming elections for the sports body, an Uttar Pradesh BJP MLC Wednesday wrote to the Union sports minister expressing his objection, saying that this would be an “insult towards the Kshatriya (Rajput) community”.
In the letter addressed to the sports minister Anurag Thakur, MLC Devendra Pratap Singh — who won the Gorakhpur-Faizabad graduate council seat for the fourth time in February this year — has said that stopping the kin and supporters of BJP MP Brij Bhushan from contesting the WFI elections would be a “suicidal move” and lead to “a big section of the society in Uttar Pradesh’s politics feeling insulted.”
ThePrint has accessed the letter.
Singh mentioned a report printed in a prominent Hindi newspaper’s Lucknow edition dated 14 June, 2023, which said that in the much-talked about meeting held between the sports minister and the protesting wrestlers — Bajrang Punia and Sakshee Malikkh — on 7 June, it had been agreed that Bhushan and his supporters won’t fight the upcoming election for the posts of office-bearers of the WFI.
“…the report under the heading that none of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s family or supporters can fight the election for the WFI on July 6, is shocking and insulting towards the Kshatriya (Rajput) community. In this news report, it has been stated that in the meeting held between the wrestlers and the sports minister, it was agreed upon that the MP’s (Brij Bhushan) kin and supporters won’t fight the election. If such an agreement has been made, then it is against the basic principle of democracy,” the letter stated.
The MLC further wrote in the letter that the wrestlers’ protest was “political”. He suggested that it was part of a strategy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s detractors and an attempt to gain control over the WFI.
Bending to their “illegitimate demands”, he wrote, would be “a historic political mistake”.
“Hence, it is requested that the election (WFI posts) should be fair, transparent and opportunity should be open to all. Stopping the MP’s family and supporters from contesting the election will be a suicidal step,” he said. “As sports minister, you should refrain from giving such an agreement. This is my request.
ThePrint reached Devendra Pratap Singh via calls and messages, but had not received a response at the time of publishing this report. This story will be updated if and when a response is received.
According to media reports, the WFI elections for the post of president, senior vice-president, four vice-presidents, secretary-general, treasurer, two joint secretaries, and five executive members are set to be held on 6 July, and the results will be announced the same day.
Soon after their 7 June meeting with Thakur, Punia, at the forefront of the protest demanding Brij Bhushan’s arrest, had reportedly commented that it had been agreed upon that there will be no discrimination in the election and “nobody with a criminal background will be up for the position of president.”
Also read: Dawood, Babri, TADA: Brij Bhushan Singh’s escapes from law and what makes the WFI chief so powerful
Brij Bhushan remains defiant, blames Congress
The MLC’s letter came on the day Brij Bhushan reportedly called himself a victim of Congress’s politics while speaking to media persons.
“This is politics. I will speak when the right time comes…I am definitely a victim of politics, but of the Congress,” he said, speaking outside his Delhi residence.
The six-time BJP MP from Kaiserganj who Sunday declared that he will fight the Lok Sabha election from the same constituency, has repeatedly denied all sexual harassment allegations against him in several interviews.
On 1 May, while speaking to a news channel, Bhushan had remarked, “Was I eating rotis made of shilajit (aphrodisiac) everyday?”.
When asked whether he was being “saved by the BJP-led government to ensure that the party does not lose the Rajput vote bank” in the Hindi belt, given his standing as a leader from the community, he had said, “I have not done anything wrong…neither will I do anything that harms the party, the country or the society. I will shield myself from any such act (sexual harassment)…at least I have that much of sense. I would not like the people to restrict me to a particular caste…that I am a leader of the Rajputs.”
A leader from the Rajput community, Brij Bhushan wields influence in as many as four constituencies and is even a deciding voice in ticket distribution in the Gonda, Kaiserganj, Bahraich and Balrampur Lok Sabha seats, BJP sources told ThePrint.
In a rally held in Balpur area of Kaiserganj Sunday, which marked the beginning of the BJP’s mega-outreach campaign for the Lok Sabha polls, Singh had launched a tirade against the Congress but refrained from naming any rival political party of Uttar Pradesh.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
Also read: ‘Fake news’ — minor wrestler’s father denies complaint against Brij Bhushan withdrawn