Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Anurag Thakur with wrestlers during press conference in New Delhi.
| Photo Credit: ANI
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has rejected all the allegations, including that of sexual harassment against its president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, saying “there is no scope for arbitrariness and mismanagement ” in the sports body.
“The WFI is managed by an elected body as per its constitution, and therefore, there is no scope for arbitrariness and mismanagement in WFI by any one individually, including the president,” the WFI said in its response to the sports ministry.
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“The WFI has enhanced the image of wrestling sport nationally as well as internationally and for the record of this ministry, it is not possible without fair, supportive, clean and strict management of WFI,” it added.
The development comes hours after the athletes called off their protests after getting assurances from the government that the WFI president would be asked to ‘step aside’ till their grievances are addressed.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Friday formed a seven-member committee to probe the allegations of sexual harassment against WFI chief.
“It has been decided that an oversight committee will be formed, names for which will be announced tomorrow. The committee will complete its investigation within four weeks. It will thoroughly probe all the allegations be it financial or sexual harassment that have been levelled against WFI and its chief,” said Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur after talks with the wrestlers.
“Till the investigation is over, he (Singh) will step aside and co-operate with the investigation and the oversight committee will run the day-to-day affairs of WFI,” Thakur added.
The WFI sent its reply on Friday evening after being asked by the sports ministry to respond to the allegations within 72 hours.
The allegations were made by renowned wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Ravi Dahiya.
Also read: Wrestlers threaten to step up protest against WFI chief
The protesting wrestlers further accused the WFI of interfering with their personal lives and exploiting them.
“When we went to the Olympics, we did not have physio or a coach. After we started raising our voices, we were threatened,” added another wrestler. Olympic medalist Punia said the wrestlers want the management of the Federation to be sacked and replaced.
Mr. Punia referred to Mr. Singh’s defence a day ago wherein the six-time MP had said that he would “hang himself even if one girl came forward to accuse him“. “Yesterday there were two girls. Now we have five to six girls who are willing to step forward with proof,” Mr. Punia told the media at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar where he and several international and Olympic medallists had gathered in protest since Tuesday.
The protesters received the support of fellow wrestler and BJP leader Babita Phogat, who met them on Thursday, while Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said in Chandigarh that he would meet the wrestlers when he returns to Delhi.
Two-time world medallist and three-time Commonwealth Games champion Vinesh Phogat added that if their demands were not heard, they would have to approach the police. “Earlier we had two girls and now we have 5-6 girls who are willing to share proof. If we are not heard we will go to the police and take the matter forward,” she said.
(With inputs from PTI)