Chandigarh: Haryana minister and BJP leader Anil Vij Friday proclaimed his support to the sportspersons agitating against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and party MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over harassment allegations, and offered to “take up the matter at the higher level so that it can be resolved amicably”.
The sportspersons, mostly wrestlers from Haryana, are currently sitting on an indefinite protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and are demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan who stands accused of sexually harassing several women wrestlers, including a minor.
The protest is being led by international medal winners Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik.
Throwing his weight behind the wrestlers, Vij, who served as sports and youth affairs in Haryana from 2014 to 2019, told the media in Ambala: “Since I have been the sports minister of Haryana, I have always supported our sportspersons and I stand with the agitating wrestlers. The whole matter is being dealt with at a high level by the Centre.”
“If the need arises, I will take up the matter at the higher level so that the issue can be resolved amicably,” he added, echoing the words of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar who had a day earlier told reporters that “it will be better to sort the matter through dialogue”.
The BJP at the central level has so far maintained a studied silence on the wrestlers’ agitation against Brij Bhushan, who has denied the allegations against him.
Speaking to The Print over the phone Saturday, Vij, whose current portfolios include home affairs, said: “I told them (mediapersons) that I have always stood with the sportspersons as I have been the state’s sports and youth affairs minister.”
When asked whether the sportspersons sitting on dharna or someone else on their behalf had approached him for his intervention in the matter, Vij replied in the negative.
On Thursday, CM Khattar was circumspect in his reply when mediapersons in Karnal asked him about the wrestlers’ protest and the alleged police high-handedness against them this week.
“You know well that this matter doesn’t pertain to Haryana. This issue is between the sportspersons and the sports bodies,” he said, adding: “The Supreme Court has taken cognisance of the matter and FIRs have already been registered. The police will investigate the case.”
Brij Bhushan has been booked by the Delhi Police under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act over a harassment complaint made by a minor, as well as on charges raised by other women wrestlers.
Khattar also said that “rather than trying to build pressure like this, it will be better to sort out the matter through dialogue”.
“As far as the allegations levelled by the women sportspersons are concerned, the truth will come out in the investigation,” he told the media.
Haryana Deputy Chief Minister and Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader Dushyant Chautala said Friday that the sternest action would be taken on the charges made by the wrestlers.
“The FIRs have been lodged. The sportspersons should record their statements. And strict action will be taken on their complaints,” Chautala told mediapersons in Uchana town.
Also read: Wrestlers continue protest against BJP MP WFI chief Brij Bhushan — ‘want to meet Modi or Shah’
‘How do we face these girls?’
On Friday, Haryana Amateur Wrestling Association, a WFI affiliate, suspended three of its members for “involvement in agitation on false allegations of sexual harassment against honorary president, Wrestling Federation of India”.
The suspended members are Virender Singh Dalal from Jhajjar, Sanjay Singh Malik from Hisar and Jai Bhagwan from Mewat.
ThePrint has accessed the order issued by HAWA president Rohtash Singh.
Even so, support is continuing to pour in for the wrestlers from across Haryana, putting pressure on the ruling BJP-JJP alliance, which is already facing criticism from the state’s opposition parties and khap panchayats.
On Friday, members of the District Wrestling Association (DWA) in Fatehabad, which is affiliated to the Haryana Olympic Association and Haryana Wrestling Association, resigned collectively.
In a letter addressed to Fatehabad Deputy Commissioner Mandeep Kaur, the DWA members stated they were submitting their resignation against the “misbehaviour and harassment” of women wrestlers and “denial of hearing” to them on their complaints of sexual harassment. ThePrint has a copy of the letter.
Speaking to ThePrint, Pardeep Potlia, honorary secretary of the DWA, said, “What is the use of remaining in these posts if they can’t ensure justice for sportswomen who brought glory to the nation?”
“More than 125 wrestlers, many of them young girls, take coaching in the stadium at Fatehabad daily. How do we face these girls if we can’t fight for their role models demanding justice for them at Jantar Mantar?” Potlia asked.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)