chatting with TOI, Bajrang, Sakshi and Vinesh mentioned that they had filed a criticism on the Connaught Place police station on Friday, mentioning seven feminine wrestlers, together with one minor, have been “molested, tortured and exploited” by way of Brij Bhushan in his capability as WFI president. The wrestlers refused to expose the names.
According to the wrestlers, it’s been greater than 48 hours however the police is but to check in an FIR at the criticism. “Brij Bhushan should be immediately arrested under the POCSO Act and put behind the bars,” mentioned a teary-eyed Vinesh. “This is a matter of POCSO, and therefore the police should have acted immediately. That’s the law of the land. But, sadly, they haven’t,” said Bajrang.
03:51
Sexual harassment complaint: No FIR against WFI president yet, DCW sends notice to Delhi Police
“Among the seven wrestlers, there are some big names and international medal winners,” Vinesh added. “We have all the evidence and proof against Brij Bhushan. There should be a narco test conducted on him, and then all the truth will come out.”
“We will continue our protest till our demands are met, the most important of which is the arrest of the WFI president,” mentioned Sakshi.
After the wrestlers’ protest in January this 12 months, the Union sports activities ministry had appointed a six-member oversight committee, led by way of boxing legend MC Mary Kom, to seem into the allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment and intimidation, monetary irregularities and administrative lapses. by way of the wrestlers.
01:58
Protest towards WFI leader Brij Bhushan Singh: Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik get emotional
According to assets within the sports activities ministry, the committee has submitted its report back to sports activities minister Anurag Thakur. The wrestlers are tough that the file be made public.
“We suspect the report has given a clean chit to the WFI president, and that’s why it is not being made public yet,” mentioned Vinesh.
“We are waiting for the report since the last three months. We expected the sports ministry to be with us, but it is quite evident that it is not. That’s why it became necessary for us to sit on a protest once again. The common narrative that has been set is that we are lying, but our battle is for the truth to come out. The truth shall prevail, and for that the report should be made public immediately,” said Sakshi.
00:58
“Haven’t got justice since 3 months…,” Vinesh Phogat on wrestler’s protest against WFI chairman
About the demands made by the wrestlers, a source in the ministry said, “The sports minister met them (the wrestlers) twice to understand their issues and demands. An oversight committee was formed based on their request for a neutral investigation. The wrestlers were unhappy with the inclusion of Yogeshwar Dutt and demanded Babita Phogat be added to the committee, which was done. They wanted Mary Kom as the chairperson of the committee, which was done. During the course of the investigation, it would have been seen as partisan on the part of the government to meet any of the athletes as it would’ve shown them as trying to influence the probe.”
Bajrang also said that recently the National Cadet Wrestling Championship was held at Gonda, UP, the stronghold of the WFI president, despite Brij Bhushan being asked to step aside from the federation’s day-to-day functioning.
01:21
Delhi: Wrestlers again stage protest against WFI Chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh at Jantar Mantar.
“The sports ministry itself had stopped the WFI officials from getting involved in running the federation. But now, the old members of WFI are back and taking decisions. The WFI office has once again opened up. It has been a total fraud against us,” said Bajrang.
All three wrestlers said that “people at the highest level” are conspiring to put an end to their wrestling careers. “We being the senior-most wrestlers have taken the responsibility of the protest. The young wrestlers should not suffer. They can try and finish off our careers, but that’s not going to happen. We are all fighters, and we will fight to the last,” mentioned Sakshi.
The wrestlers this time have not were given permission to protest at Jantar Mantar, a delegated web page for protests within the nationwide capital. For any protest at Jantar Mantar, permission from the Supreme Court is necessary.
By Sunday night, a lot of police body of workers collected on the protest web page, resulting in a few incidents. Vinesh and her husband Somveer had long gone out of doors to get meals and water for the protesting wrestlers, however have been stopped from re-entering the web page. They have been grated access most effective after all the media contingent objected to the police behaviour. Bajrang needed to then dial a couple of numbers and the police relented thereafter. Some mediapersons have been additionally now not allowed to go into and considered one of them was once even manhandled by way of the police.
