Wrestlers’ Protest: ‘I have once again invited the…’, says Anurag Thakur

The Central government has again invited the protesting wrestlers for the talks, days after they met Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The wrestlers are demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who is also a parliamentarian from Kaisarganj constituency. Some women wrestlers have accused him of sexually harassing them, charges he has denied.

In a late-night tweet on Wednesday, Union Youth Affairs & Sports Minister Anurag Thakur wrote, "The government is willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues. I have once again invited the wrestlers for the same".

Yesterday Thakur said that a fair investigation will be conducted into the allegations of sexual harassment levelled by women wrestlers against BJP MP Brij Bhushan.

"The government has already formed a committee (to probe the allegations against Singh). The police are investigating the matter by registering an FIR. A charge sheet will also be filed and fair investigation will be done," the Union minister said.

Delhi Police yesterday recorded statements of associates of WFI chief Brij Bhushan and those working at his residence in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda as part of the investigation.

They also said the girl whose statement was the basis of a case being registered against Singh under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has recorded a fresh statement under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) section 164.

The officials said police are collecting evidence in connection with the case filed against the BJP MP, and will submit a report in court accordingly.

Over 125 people, including family members and associates from both sides, have been interrogated and their statements were recorded. Singh has been questioned twice, news agency PTI reported.

The team checked their IDs and noted their addresses while recording the statements.

Technical, digital, and manual evidence has been collected. As soon as the investigation is concluded, a charge sheet will be filed in court.

The country's top wrestlers, including Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, are protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, whom they have accused of sexually harassing women grapplers.