Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who is facing sexual harassment charges by female wrestlers has claimed that 90 per cent of the athletes and their guardians from Haryana trust the organization and only one wrestling family continues to protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. He also alleged that the girls who leveled allegations against him belonged to the same ‘akhada’ led by Congress leader Deepender Hooda.
The WFI president’s claims were made amidst a protest by top Indian grapplers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia, who have been protesting against him for the last seven days. The Delhi Police have registered two FIRs against Singh over allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation of female wrestlers.
Former Indian wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, who is a part of the Indian Olympic Association’s seven-member committee to probe the wrestlers’ allegations, said that FIRs have been registered, and now the wrestlers should focus on their practice. Dutt urged the wrestlers to move past the issue and focus on their training.
Quoting Dutt, News agency ANI wrote, “The wrestlers should have taken this step 3 months ago. FIR has been registered, now the wrestlers should focus on their practice. Even the prime minister does not have the right to punish only the court does.”
Despite opposition leaders showing support for the protesting wrestlers, Singh addressing reporters claimed that Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav knows the truth and that they have known each other since childhood. Singh claimed that 80 per cent of the wrestlers in Uttar Pradesh belong to families with the Samajwadi Party ideology, and they call him ‘Netaji’.
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Meanwhile, The Delhi Police on Friday filed two FIRs against the WFI president Singh after women wrestlers levelled allegations of sexual harassment against him. The protest has gained wide support from top grapplers getting involved such as, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and many others. Over the past few days, the protesting wrestlers have slept and trained at the protest site near Jantar Mantar in the national capital.
The WFI president’s comments have sparked outrage and controversy, with many calling for a thorough investigation into the allegations. The Indian wrestling community is divided on the issue, with some calling for Singh’s resignation, while others support him.
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The situation is developing, and it remains to be seen how the investigation and protests will unfold. However, it is clear that the allegations have shaken the Indian wrestling community.