Wrestlers return to Jantar Mantar, demand action on allegations of sexual abuse against WFI chief Brij Bhushan

They allege that despite an Oversight Committee to look into the plaints, not much has moved on the ground. The sports ministry has not issued a statement either.

Bajrang Punia speaks to the media Sunday | ANI

New Delhi: After staging a protest against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on 18 January this year, wrestlers have returned to Jantar Mantar once again. This time, they are hoping to draw the attention of the sports ministry, as they feel that nothing has been done thus far about their allegations of sexual abuse and dictatorship against Singh.

Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia were among the wrestlers present at Jantar Mantar Sunday and Punia confirmed to ThePrint over the phone Sunday that women wrestlers have lodged a complaint against Singh for sexual harassment at Parliament street police station in New Delhi. While Punia could not confirm how many women wrestlers had complained, a source put the number at seven.

Following the January protest, the sports ministry had formed an oversight committee headed by Mary Kom to probe the allegations and monitor the daily functioning of the WFI and submit its report within four weeks. The committee was appointed on 23 January.

As per sources within the Federation, the report has been submitted to the ministry though it overstepped the deadline. The findings of the report are yet to be made public. The ministry is yet to make a statement on the report.

A recent PTI report had speculated that the sexual harrassment allegations against Singh could not be proved. Senior vice president of WFI I.D. Nanavati had confirmed to ThePrint that Singh has been given a “clean chit” in the report.

After the formulation of the committee, Vinesh Phogat had questioned its transparency when Yogeshwar Dutt was inducted in it. Then, Babita Phogat was included in the committee. 

Last week, she and other protesters spoke to the media and went on record to say that their attempts to call either sports minister Anurag Thakur or Mary Kom for an update on the probe report had failed to evoke a response.

Meanwhile, Vinesh has tweeted that the police have not filed an FIR despite some women wrestlers’ complaint filed on 21 April this year.

She has also alleged that the entire system is supporting Singh and no one dares to speak against the “mafia”.

Between 16-18 April, National Championships in the U-17 category as well as the Senior Open National Ranking Wrestling Tournament was held in Gonda, Singh’s stronghold.

The venue was Nandini Nagar Mahavidyalaya – a college where Singh is the chairperson.

This was the first tournament conducted by the WFI since 21 January when the central government suspended all activities of the body. That day, the Assistant Secretary of the federation, Vinod Tomar, was also suspended.

Vinesh has shown displeasure over this event too. Sharing a video from the event, ostensibly presided over by Singh, Vinesh asked for God to take care of the country.

According to reports, Singh confirmed on 16 April that as per sports code 2011, he cannot contest the elections for president as he has completed three tenures on the post.

However, he is hoping to get a different portfolio at WFI.

To this, one of the protesters told ThePrint on the condition of anonymity,”Yes, as per the sports code 2011, after completing 12 years as the WFI chief, Singh cannot contest for the top post. However, he is planning to field his son for the president’s post. Thus, the cycle of harrasment and dictatorship will not stop.”  The WFI will hold the election for the president’s post on 7 May.

 

(Edited by Smriti Sinha)