New Delhi: Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Friday formed a seven-member committee to probe the allegations of sexual harassment against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Members of the committee are Mary Kom, Dola Banerjee, Alaknanda Ashok, Yogeshwar Dutt, Sahdev Yadav and two advocates, according IOA.
Amid the protests, India’s top wrestlers on Friday evening reached the residence of Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur in Delhi for a meeting.
Olympians Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat led the protest at Jantar Mantar against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), alleging “harassment of wrestlers by the WFI through its arbitrary rules and regulations”.
Top Updates
- Pratik Bhushan Singh, son of WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh confirmed that Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will address the media on Jan 22nd at the Annual General Meet of WFI.
- Earlier on Friday, in a press conference, IOA called for an immediate meeting with the protesting wrestlers, held at 5.45 in the evening.
- WFI chairman Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has said he will “expose” the “political conspiracy.”
- Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Punia, also wrote to the president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) PT Usha on the issue.
- Amid protests, sports minister Anurag Thakur met the protesters after he reached Delhi from Chandigarh on Thursday night.
- Assuring a solution, Thakur said the allegations are serious and the Ministry has already taken cognisance and sent a notice to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
- Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha urged athletes to come forward and voice their concerns.
- The wrestlers’ post-meeting said that they were not satisfied with the talks.
- Vinesh Phogat said that “Today is the second day of protest and we haven’t got any satisfactory response from the government.”
- She further added that “We will make sure Brij Bhushan Singh resigns and is jailed. We will also file a case.”
- Sakshi Malik said that “Government did not promise any action, they have only given assurance and we’re not happy with the response, we request PM sir to ensure justice”.
- Bajrang Punia said that “Babita Phogat has come from the government’s side for mediation. We will speak with her and then give more details.”
- He further added that “If we can fight for our country, then we can also fight for our rights,”.
- Babita Phogat assured the wrestlers that the government is with them.
- She said that “I have assured them that the government is with them. I will try that their issues are resolved today.”
- In its communication to WFI, the Ministry has stated that “since the matter pertains to the well-being of athletes, the Ministry has taken a very serious view of the matter.”
- The Ministry has further stated that if WFI fails to furnish the reply within the next 72 hours, the Ministry will proceed to initiate action against the federation.
- The Women National Wrestling Coaching camp, which was due to start in Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Lucknow, has been cancelled.
- Asian Games and Commonwealth Games Divya Kakran defended WFI President and claimed that she never experienced any misbehave or witnessed any instance of misbehave.
- In a video uploaded by Kakran she added that “When old allegations are not working, the accusers are in search of new allegations against Sharan.”
- She further added “Since 2013, when I was 14, I have been going to camp and I attend it even now. Till day, he has done nothing wrong with me or any woman for that matter.”
- Kakran also alleged that the wrestlers attending the protest are the ones who were speaking positively about Brij Bhushan and his work as WFI President to the media just months back.
- WFI President refuted the charges and added that he is open to investigation over the alleged sexual harassment charges.
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