With the file of the Oversight Committee inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment towards the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and different officers but to be made public by way of the Union Sports Ministry, the federation has introduced competitions in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh. Pradesh and is gearing up for a conceivable election in May.
This construction has come as a jolt to the protesting wrestlers, who slammed the ministry and puzzled the ‘equity’ of the probe.
It is realized {that a} assembly of all 28 WFI gadgets may be held at Nandini Nagar in Gonda at the sidelines of the U-17 nationwide championships and Senior Open National Ranking Wrestling Tournament scheduled from April 16-18. The position is a stronghold of Singh, and in step with most sensible WFI officers he can even chair the assembly. Singh has finished 3 phrases in place of job and is ineligible to contest as in step with the National Sports Code provisions. His tenure expires this month. WFI plans to carry elections in New Delhi in the second one week of May, in step with a most sensible WFI respectable.
“The AGM on January 22 needed to be canceled as in step with executive path. We will cling the assembly now as there are a number of vital issues, together with the election, that the home wishes to speak about,” stated a WFI respectable on situation of anonymity.
Asked whether or not Singh would chair the assembly, the respectable stated, “Why not? He was asked to step aside till the probe was completed and he did that. We will take legal opinion on the issue. If he is not available, the senior vice-president will preside,” he added.
The six-member Oversight Committee headed by way of lady boxing nice MC Mary Kom, submitted its file within the first week of April, however the ministry has maintained silence over it. On Monday, there was once no reaction from the sports activities ministry to queries in regards to the standing of the file and when the findings can be launched.
The panel was once shaped by way of the ministry following unheard of protests by way of the rustic’s most sensible wrestlers, together with Olympic and global medalists who accused Brij Bhushan and a few WFI officers of sexual harassment. The panel was once first of all given 4 weeks to finish the probe and likewise requested to run WFI’s day by day affairs. It was once shaped on January 23 and its time period was once later prolonged by way of two weeks. WFI officers resumed their roles at the start of April. It is realized that 15 ladies wrestlers deposed ahead of the committee.
“As in step with ministry’s directions, WFI had stopped all actions for 6 weeks. We have cooperated with the Oversight Committee and adopted the entire instructions of the ministry,” said another senior WFI functionary. “The federation has been allowed to renew its functioning, together with verbal exchange with the arena governing frame, United World Wrestling (UWW).”
Tokyo Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia, who was once some of the wrestlers who protested — Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Punia had been some of the others — expressed wonder on the WFI officers resuming paintings.
“When the committee’s report has not come out, how can WFI start normal functioning?” Punia requested. “There are also reports that one member of the committee has signed it with objections. So, we don’t know what is happening here. We don’t want wrestling to suffer. It is a serious matter, otherwise we would not have come out and protested on the streets. We want justice.”