Tag: Wrestling Federation of India (WFI)

Sakshi Malik Veteran

Propaganda Of Brij Bhushan: Sakshi On Protests Against Veteran Wrestlers

By LokMarg

Former India wrestler and Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik on Wednesday accused the wrestlers protesting against her and other veteran wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia of running propaganda against them for former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Singh.

Young wrestlers held a protest against veteran grapplers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat on Wednesday, accusing them of putting all wrestling-related activities to a halt and ruining the future of children pursuing the sport.

“I have given years of my life to wrestling and retired recently so you can tell how stressed I am mentally. There is an IT cell of Brij Bhushan on social media. These protestors are his people and running a propaganda for him. Brij Bhushan was making allegations against us earlier too during the protest,” said Sakshi to the media in a press conference.

Sakshi went on to clarify that they did not have any problem with the newly elected federation, except for the president Sanjay Singh. She also went on to say that she welcomes the suspension of newly-elected federation by the Union Sports Ministry.

The wrestler also accused Brij Bhushan of targeting her family.

“We only had a problem with Sanjay Singh. We do not have any problem with the new federation body or the Ad-hoc committee. I request PM Modi ji, and Amit Shah ji to ensure that Sanjay Singh has no involvement in WFI. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure our safety. Brij Bhushan (BJP leader & former WFI chief) is targeting my family,” said Sakshi.

Sakshi said that even though she is retiring, she wants the wrestlers who will play in her 58 kg category to secure a gold or silver in the Paris 2024 Olympics and outdo her bronze medal in the 2016 Olympics.

“I request the ad-hoc committee to hold nationals and camps for U15, U17, U20 categories. No youngster should face any issues,” she added.

Sakshi said that it would be great for women wrestlers if women are given some responsibilities in the federation.

“I cannot say that I will step into administration. But If there are some women in the federation, it would be good for women wrestlers, Women wrestlers will be able to go and express themselves freely,” she said.

The ad hoc committee for the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Monday announced it would host the National Coaching Camp for Senior Wrestlers in preparation for the forthcoming Asian Olympics qualifying and World qualifying tournament.

Along with this, the committee has scheduled the Senior National Championships for wrestling.

The decision was announced following a press release by the ad hoc committee. The senior National Championships will take place from February 2 to 5 in Jaipur and will be orchestrated by the Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB).

The tournament will include competitions across senior freestyle, Greco-Roman, and women’s categories, providing a comprehensive platform for wrestlers to showcase their talent.

After the conclusion of the Senior National Championships, the National Coaching Camp (NCC) will be conducted.

The men’s camp (encompassing Greco-Roman and free style) will be held at SAI NRC Sonepat, while the women’s camp will be held at SAI NSNIS Patiala. The NCC will select medalist wrestlers from 30 weight divisions across the senior freestyle, Greco-Roman, and women’s categories of the Senior National Championships.

The coaching camp will begin on February 9, 2024, and extend until the Paris Olympics in 2024. The primary focus of the NCC will be rigorous training for the upcoming Olympic qualifying tournaments.

These qualifying tournaments include the 2024 Asian Qualification Tournament set to be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from April 19-21, and the 2024 World Qualification Tournament scheduled for Istanbul, Turkey, from May 9-12, 2024.

Additionally, the NCC will prepare athletes for the Senior Asian Championships, which are slated to take place in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from April 11-16, 2024.

The Union Sports Ministry had earlier suspended the sport’s premier governing body in the country along with all its office-bearers, including the newly-elected president Sanjay Singh.

At the same time, following its decision, the Ministry instructed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to form an ad hoc committee to manage and control the affairs of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). (ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Let The Court Decide: Brij Bhushan After Wrestlers Withdraw Protest Against Him

By LokMarg

Former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Monday said that the case of alleged sexual harassment against him is now in the court that will do its work.

“I do not want to comment on this as it is now under the court’s consideration. The matter is in the court, and the court will do its work,” Singh told ANI.
The remark came after the protesting wrestlers announced to withdraw their protest against him, stating that the government has fulfilled its promise of filing a chargesheet against Singh, a six-time BJP MP whom they have accused of sexual harassment.

Top wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, in identical tweets said that the fight will now be fought in court, not on the roads.

Malik took to Twitter on Sunday to state that the “battle will now be fought in court and not on roads till justice is delivered.”

“As per the talks held on June 7, the government has implemented our demands. The Delhi Police on June 15 had submitted before the court the chargesheet after conducting a probe into allegations of sexual harassment (against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh), on the basis of an FIR filed by six women wrestlers. Now, the fight will continue in court and not on roads till justice is delivered,” the tweet posted by the three top grapplers read.

They further said that they will wait for fresh WFI elections which are scheduled to take place on July 11 as promised by the government.

“The process for fresh Wrestling Federation of India election has begun. The polls are scheduled to be held on July 11 as promised by the government. We will wait for the implementation of the promise,” the wrestlers said.

Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat were leading protests against Singh over alleged sexual harassment since the beginning of this year.

Following their removal from their Jantar Mantar protest site on May 28, the grapplers had then suspended their protest until June 15 after being assured by Union sports minister Anurag Thakur that a chargesheet will be filed against the BJP MP Singh.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections have been postponed from July 6 to July 11, as per the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Members of the executive committee of WFI will be decided in the polls. The occupants of the post of president, one post of senior vice-president, four posts of vice president, one each position of secretary general and treasurer, two posts of joint secretary and five posts of an executive member will be decided, as per a letter from IOA.

The last date for receiving names for the electoral college was June 25 by 5:00 PM. Two nominations from each State/Union Territory will be made.

All state/UT wrestling federations will nominate two persons each of their respective associations, who are part of the executive body to form the electoral college for the election to elect the WFI’s executive committee, added the letter.

Preparation and display of the electoral college, circulation to affiliates and publishing of the same on websites of IOA/WFI will be done on June 28.

Submissions of nominations for election will be from June 29 to July 1 from 11 AM to 5 PM. The preparation and display of nominations received by returning officers will be done on July 3 by 1 PM.

“The scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on July 4 by 11 AM. The submission of the notice of withdrawal of candidates will be done between July 4 to July 7, till 5 PM. On July 8, a final list of candidates will be made by 11 AM,” the letter added.

Polling will be done on July 11 from 11 AM to 1:20 PM. The counting of votes will start from 1:30 PM and results will be declared on the same day. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

Gauhati High Court WFI

Gauhati HC Stays WFI Elections

By LokMarg

Gauhati High Court on Sunday stayed the Wrestling Federation of India elections, which were scheduled to be held on July 11.

The ruling came on a plea filed by the Assam Wrestling Federation, seeking a stay on the WFI elections.
The elections, which were initially scheduled to be held on July 6, were pushed back to July 11 earlier. The polling was to be conducted from 11 am to 1.20 pm.

The counting of votes was to start from 1.30 pm and the results were to be declared on the same day — July 11.

The polls were scheduled amid a protest by several prominent wrestlers, including Olympians Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat, seeking the arrest and removal of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, over allegations of sexual harassment.

The protest was launched near the iconic Jantar Mantar in the national capital at the start of this year.

Earlier, on June 13, the newly-appointed returning officer for WFI elections, Mahesh Mittal Kumar, released a statement announcing July 6 as the date for holding the polls to the country’s top wrestling body.

The process of filing nominations was to start from June 19.

“Whereas, the undersigned has been appointed as the Returning Officer by the Indian Olympic Association vide its letter No. IOA/I-28/2023/1350 dated 12th June 2023 for the purpose of conducting the election of the Executive Committee of the Wrestling Federation of India(WFI), which is an affiliate member of the Indian Olympic Association(IOA),” the statement by the office of the returning officer read.

The Indian Olympics Association (IOA) organised a three-member ad hoc committee in April as mandated by the Sports Ministry, and two members were named to oversee WFI’s day-to-day activities and pick wrestlers for international events in the interim.

Earlier, after a meeting with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, star Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia said he was assured that the probe by Delhi Police into the allegations against the WFI chief would be completed by June 15.

Delhi Police subsequently filed a chargesheet against the WFI chief, while recommending cancellation of the complaint filed by a minor wrestler, alleging sexual harassment. They sought a withdrawal of the case after the minor and her father retracted their earlier statements. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

WFI Elections

WFI Elections Postponed, To Be Held On July 11: IOA

By LokMarg

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections have been postponed from July 6 to July 11, as per the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

In the election, the members of the executive committee of WFI will be decided. The occupants of the post of president, one post of senior vice-president, four posts of vice president, one each position of secretary general and treasurer, two posts of joint secretary and five posts of an executive member will be decided, as per a letter from IOA.
The last date for receiving names for the electoral collage will be June 25 by 5:00 PM. Two nominations from each State/Union Territory will be made. All state/UT wrestling federations will nominate two persons each of their respective associations, who are part of the executive body to form the electoral collage for the election to elect the WFI’s executive committee, added the letter.

Preparation and display of electoral collage, circulation to affiliates and publishing the same on websites of IOA/WFI will be done on June 28.

Submissions of nominations for election will be from June 29 to July 1 from 11 AM to 5 PM. The preparation and display of nominations received by returning officer will be done on July 3 by 1 PM.

The scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on July 4 by 11 AM. The submission of the notice of withdrawal of candidates will be done between July 4 to July 7, till 5 PM. On July 8, a final list of candidates will be made by 11 AM, added the letter.

Polling will be done on July 11 from 11 AM to 1:20 PM. Counting of votes will start from 1:30 PM and results will be declared on the same day.

Olympians Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat along with other wrestlers had been on a protest in the national capital since the beginning of this year in order to press for the arrest of the Brij Bhushan over allegations of sexual harassment.

Earlier on June 13, Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections were announced to be held on July 6 amid the ongoing protest by wrestlers against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, by the newly-appointed returning officer for WFI elections Mahesh Mittal Kumar in a statement.

The process of filing nominations was also announced to start from on June 19.

“Whereas, the undersigned has been appointed as the Returning Officer by the Indian Olympic Association vide its letter No. IOA/I-28/2023/1350 dated 12th June 2023 for the purpose of conducting the election of the Executive Committee of the Wrestling Federation of India(WFI), which is an affiliate member of the Indian Olympic Association(IOA),” the statement by the office of the returning officer read.

The Indian Olympics Association (IOA) organised a three-member ad hoc committee in April as mandated by the Sports Ministry, and two members were named to oversee WFI’s day-to-day activities and pick wrestlers for international events in the interim term.

After a meeting with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, star Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia on Wednesday said the government assured that the ongoing probe by Delhi Police against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will be completed before June 15.

Earlier in June, former Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Mahesh Mittal Kumar was appointed as the returning officer for the Wrestling Federation of India elections by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Joint Secretary and Acting CEO Kalyan Chaubey on Monday confirmed the appointment of Justice MM Kumar through an official letter, also authorising him (Kumar) to appoint an Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) and other staff to assist him in conducting the elections.

The elections will be critical in moulding the future of wrestling in India and deciding the federation’s leadership. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

‘Wrestlers Protest Is Pure Drama; It Won’t Achieve Anything’

By LokMarg

Amlesh Singh Yadav, an international wrestler and a National Gold Medalist, terms the ongoing protest of wrestlers to be mere propaganda. His views:

Let me begin with saying that I am happy to hear that wrestlers who were camping at Jantar Mantar for a month have been removed from the protest site. They were not only causing problems for the common man in a VIP zone but were also seen misbehaving with security personnel. Their threat to immerse Olympic medals in the Ganga was a cheap drama to gain media attention and stay relevant in the news.

It all turned out to be a damp squib in the end. Being a wrestler myself, I can tell you that they have very little support in the wrestling community. This is the age of social media and people are aware of real issues. The video clips of their demonstrations and moving in and out of the protest site have exposed the hollowness of their claims. They have found support only from a select group of people and organisations which are proven opponents of the current government at the Centre, be they farmers from one community or political leaders. They are not going to achieve anything from such demonstrations.

The timing of their protest coincides with the timing of national trials which clearly shows and reveals their intentions to escape trials. They – just a handful of them actually – want to play in international tournaments without attending the trials. This demand is illegal and will never be met. The Wrestling Federation has been overhauled to disallow their arm-twisting tactics. Now, youngsters from every part of the country are finding place in wrestling trials and the best talent will represent India.

Yadav has been a National Gold Medalist in wrestling

The WFI will not allow any kind or blackmail or pressure from any lobby to favour a select group of wrestlers. Have you noticed that these wrestlers have virtually no support from other wrestlers in the country? As I pointed out earlier they have support only from the political opponents of the ruling party, not from any sportsperson or organization.

ALSO READ: Women Wrestlers Betrayed By Their Own

What they are trying to do now is creating nuisance by challenging the police and judiciary by ignoring their advice. That is the reason why they announced throwing their medals in the Ganga. This creates small sensation in the media and, with coordinated efforts, social media. But this will not hold for long.

The fact is that these wrestlers were losing relevance after reforms were brought into the (Wrestling) Federation. They could not digest it when their dominance in the wrestling was challenged from younger talent of other states. So they launched their theatrics. But all this has fizzled out now and they are losing trust and confidence by each passing day. My advice to them is that they should return to the mat and prove their prowess there instead of holding demonstrations.

As told to Rajat Rai

‘Wrestlers Protest is Tamasha; Haryana Wants Its Dominance Back in WFI’

By LokMarg

Sanjay Rai, an international grappler from Gorakhpur, UP, says Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is being targeted for bringing transparency in Wrestling Federation. His views:

I am a wrestler myself and I believe in plainspeak. So I will not mince any words in sharing my opinion on the current protest at Jantar Mantar which is organised by a select few champion wrestlers. The real reason behind the protest is that many wrestlers from Haryana did not like the reforms and transparency brought into the sport by existing Wrestling Federation president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who belongs to Uttar Pradesh.

So the real issue is regional dominance in wrestling. About 10 years ago, the WFI was in complete control of Haryana, be they officer bearers or wrestlers. After Brij Bhushan took charge of the Federation, all the budding and established wrestlers were given a fair chance to prove their mettle on the mat. However, this angered a clique of politicians and senior wrestlers from Haryana who until then had a free run and felt their sense of entitlement was being challenged.

Allow me to explain it more clearly. Every wrestler has a golden period in term of his or her sporting career where he or she gives peak performance. This period is also short–lived and one’s body and performance begins to ebb away after taking the rough and tumble. Ideally, every player must realise this decline and make way for the younger batch to take over. But many find it difficult to digest this truth and wish to cling on to their position on the back of their past achievements.

This is what has happened here too. Prior to Brij Bhushan’s regime in WFI, all the star wrestlers from Haryana were given a ‘wild card’ entry to participate in international tournaments. This practice was challenged by Brij Bhushan and all wrestlers were asked to prove their fitness and skills by competing with the new crop of wrestlers in the Nationals. This much-needed reform caused much heartburn among Haryana’s wrestler community and triggered the ‘revolt’ at Jantar Mantar to unseat Brij Bhushan from WFI helm.

ALSO READ: ‘There is Pressure on Star Sportsperson to Keep Quiet’

Earlier too some of these ‘disgruntled’ player had chosen to protest at Jantar Mantar, at a time when the WFI was organising National Ranking Series in Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh. The Series was a first in the country to allow all wrestlers a fair representation and ranking for benefits like government jobs or official positions in sports bodies.

Ageing is a biological phenomenon and no one can remain young and agile forever. As a wrestler’s body ages, one must step aside for the new generation and look for other options such as coaching, commentary, or a promotional role in the sport. And this is true of all forms of competition as this will help infuse fresh blood and life in the sports. A sportsperson must set aside one’s ego for the sake of the sports and the country.

As told to Rajat Rai

NADA Suspends Bajrang

I Have Full Faith In Judiciary: WFI Chief Brij Bhushan

By LokMarg

Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Friday that he has full faith in the judiciary amid the sexual harrasment allegations against him levelled by several wrestlers.

Delhi Police on Friday apprised the Supreme Court that it agreed to register an FIR based on the allegations levelled by wrestlers against the WFI chief.
“I have full faith in the judiciary. I am not running anywhere. I am in my house. By now a case must have been filed against me. I will cooperate with Delhi Police. Whatever the decision of the Supreme Court, I will follow it. Ask the players who are protesting about the allegations against me,” Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh told ANI.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Delhi Police, apprised the SC bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud that Delhi Police will register the FIR by this evening.

Appearing for the wrestlers, senior advocate Kapil Sibal urged the court to also issue directions to provide safety to a minor girl, one of the petitioner wrestlers, due to the threat to her. Sibal said he is worried about the safety of the minor girl and other wrestlers.

SG Tushar Mehta said that all these concerns can be addressed by the police.

Top wrestlers have resumed their sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar here in the national capital after filing a complaint at the Connaught Place police station on Friday stating that seven female wrestlers, including one minor, were harassed and exploited by Brij Bhushan in his capacity as WFI chief.

Earlier in the day protesting wrestlers held a press conference at the Jantar Mantar in the national capital.

Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia and star wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik on Friday said that they will continue their protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh until he is sent behind bars.

Indian wrestlers are protesting at Jantar Mantar in the national capital against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment. Top Indian grapplers such as Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and many other wrestlers are involved in the protest against the WFI chief.

On the 6th day of the protest, wrestlers addressed the media after the Delhi Police agreed to register an FIR against the WFI President.

“I’d like to thank all the athletes who have come out in our support. Abhinav Bindra and Neeraj Chopra have supported us because they understand the value of athletes. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh should be imprisoned soon. He’d continue to misuse his position and he needs to be put behind bars. We’ll protest till the time he goes to jail. We also have to see the sections that the Delhi police have imposed on him. People who felt that our protest will be over after the FIR were wrong and we are in our right to decide on it. All of us protesting need security and the complainants need security because you never know who wants to harm us,” Bajrang Punia said at the press conference.

Star grappler Phogat appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack the WFI chief from all positions.

“We don’t trust Delhi police, they took 6 days to register an FIR. We’ll see what they do. We are adamant about our stand to imprison the WFI President. I appeal to the Prime Minister of India to remove the WFI president from all his responsibilities. This is related to all the sports and I’d urge them to come out in our support and I want to stay in touch with all of them. This is when you safeguard the future of sports and athletes in the country. All the renowned sports people should come out and support us and save Indian sports. If they don’t come out today, they’ll never be able to safeguard India’s sporting culture,” Vinesh Phogat said at the press conference.

“We have already given enough evidence and if anything else is required, we’ll present it to Supreme Court not to the Delhi police. This is not a fight to register an FIR. This is a fight against one person who already has 85 cases against him. We need to free wrestling of corrupt people. We’ll respect the decision made by Supreme Court and will act according to their orders,” she added.

“I’d like to thank all the women who’ve come out in our support. We don’t trust the Delhi police at all, they registered the FIR after Supreme Court’s orders. We just demand a fair investigation. We just want Brij Bhushan to be removed from all the positions and he should be punished accordingly and only then we’ll end our protest,” Sakshi Malik said. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

Sania In Support Of Indian Wrestlers

Sania Comes Out In Support Of Indian Wrestlers

By LokMarg

India’s ace tennis player Sania Mirza too has come out in support of wrestlers who are protesting at Jantar Mantar here in the national capital against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment.

Sania said in a tweet that as an athlete as well as a woman, it is too “difficult” to watch the ongoing protest and now it’s time to stand with the wrestlers in this difficult time.
“As an athlete but more as a woman this is too difficult to watch .. they’ve brought laurels to our country and we have all celebrated them, with them .. if you have done that then it’s time to now stand with them in this difficult time too .. this is a highly sensitive matter and serious allegations. I hope whatever the truth is justice is served.. sooner rather than later,” said Sania Mirza in her tweet.

Along with Sania, Indian field hockey player Rani Rampal also came forward to extend her support to the wrestlers who continue to protest at Jantar Mantar.

“Extremely painful to see our renowned wrestlers demanding justice on the streets of India it tears me apart to see my fellow athletes in this situation who have worked hard in their lives and won great laurels for our beloved country. They deserve justice,” said Rani Rampal in her tweet.

Earlier Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra on Friday came in support of the ongoing wrestlers’ protest and said that he was ‘hurt’ to see athletes on the streets demanding justice.

“It hurts me to see our athletes on the streets demanding justice. They have worked hard to represent our great nation and make us proud,” the Tokyo Olympics gold medallist said in a tweet on Friday. Indian wrestlers have been protesting at Jantar Mantar here in the national capital against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment.

Top Indian grapplers such as Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and many others wrestlers are involved in the protest against the WFI chief.

Having waited for three months, star wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia again started their protest against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Sunday and said that they took the step after alleging that no action has been taken in the matter and said that the FIR had not been registered against the WFI chief. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) gangster Hashim Baba

Police Agree To Register FIR Against WFI Prez Brij Bhushan

By LokMarg

Delhi Police on Friday apprised the Supreme Court that it agreed to register an FIR based on the allegations levelled by wrestlers against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Delhi Police, apprised the SC bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud that Delhi Police will register the FIR by this evening.
Appearing for the wrestlers, senior advocate Kapil Sibal urged the court to also issue directions to provide safety to a minor girl, one of the petitioner wrestlers, due to the threat to her. Sibal said he is worried about the safety of the minor girl and other wrestlers.

SG Tushar Mehta said that all these concerns can be addressed by the police.

The top court directed Delhi police to make an adequate assessment of threat perception and provide security to minor girl, who is a gold medalist. The court also asked Delhi Police to file an affidavit mentioning steps taken to provide security to the minor girl. The court listed the matter for May 5.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court issued has notice to Delhi Police on a wrestlers’ plea seeking registration of FIR against WFI president Brij Bhushan. The court has noted that there is a serious allegation that is contained in the petition by wrestlers who have represented India. The court had also clarified that the identity of the petitioners shall be redacted for the purpose of this petition.

The apex court’s direction came after Sibal along with another senior advocate Narendra Hooda pleaded for an urgent hearing on the wrestlers’ petition.

Sibal had apprised the SC that these are women wrestlers which include a minor.

Wrestlers have urged the top court to issue directions to Delhi police to lodge the FIR against Brij Bhushan as there is an inordinate delay in doing so.

WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was accused by the wrestlers of sexual misconduct and intimidation. The government established a five-member oversight council to oversee WFI operations. Boxer Mary Kom is heading the oversight committee which was formed to probe into the allegations levelled against the WFI and its chief Singh and other coaches.

On Monday, Delhi Police sought a report from the investigation committee set up by the Union Sports Ministry to investigate the allegations and has begun a probe into the fresh complaint by wrestlers.

After a protest led by some prominent wrestlers of the country this January, the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the formation of an ‘oversight committee’ to probe allegations levelled against the WFI and its chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and other coaches.

The committee was tasked with submitting a report on the issue to the ministry.

Top wrestlers have resumed their sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar here in the national capital after filing a complaint at the Connaught Place police station on Friday (April 21) stating that seven female wrestlers, including one minor, were harassed and exploited by Brij Bhushan in his capacity as WFI chief.

Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) has issued a notice to Delhi Police to register an FIR on the issue.

Top Indian wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Ravi Dahiya, and Sakshi Malik, held a sit-in protest in Jantar Mantar in January this year, demanding that Brij Bhushan be removed from the head office and the Wrestling Federation of India be disbanded.

They had accused the WFI body and its chief of sexual harassment and mistreatment of wrestlers. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

Brij Bhushan on supreme court

Matter Is In Supreme Court, It Will Decide: Brij Bhushan

By LokMarg

Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Tuesday did not directly reply to questions over protesting wrestlers’ allegations against him and said the matter is pending in the Supreme Court.

Some prominent wrestlers, who have resumed their protest seeking registration of criminal case on their allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, moved the Supreme Court on Monday.
“The matter is in the Supreme Court and the court will decide,” Brij Bhushan Singh told media persons.

The wrestlers said they had resumed the protest as “no action has been taken in the matter”.

Ace India wrestler Sakshi Malik broke down while interacting with the media as wrestlers protested at Jantar Mantar.

Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia are among those who have resumed their protest over their demands.

“We wanted to file a sexual harassment FIR against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Two days ago we got a complaint filed but FIR hasn’t been registered yet. There are seven female wrestlers and one of them is a minor. We want the investigation to happen fast. It is a sensitive matter. We are being framed as liars which we cannot bear. We are waiting for two-and-a-half months now but no one is listening. People are saying we are spent force that is why we are protesting. We just won a medal at CWG 2022,” Sakshi Malik told the media at Jantar Mantar.

“It is being heard that we are finished, that’s why we are protesting. For two and a half months the government has not taken any action. We cannot reveal the name of a minor,” she added.

Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Ravi Dahiya, and Sakshi Malik, held a sit-in protest in Jantar Mantar in January this year, demanding that Brij Bhushan be removed from and the Wrestling Federation of India be disbanded. They had accused the body and its chief of sexual harassment and mistreatment of wrestlers.

Following the protest, the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the formation of an ‘oversight committee’ to probe the allegations.

Olympic medalist Mary Kom is heading the Oversight Committee. Former wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, former shuttler Trupti Murgunde, SAI member Radhica Sreeman, ex-CEO of the Target Olympic Podium Plan Rajesh Rajagopalan, and CWG gold medalist Babita Phogat are the other members of the Mary Kom-led committee. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/