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Business News/ News / India/  Wrestlers' Protest: ‘Will force govt to change POCSO Act’: WFI chief Brij Bhushan
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Wrestlers' Protest: ‘Will force govt to change POCSO Act’: WFI chief Brij Bhushan

Top wrestlers of the country, including Vinesh Phogat and Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, have been staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar in Delhi since April 23, demanding Singh's arrest for allegedly sexually harassing seven women grapplers, including a minor.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. (ANI)Premium
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. (ANI)

Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who faces a case under the POCSO Act, on Thursday said the law is being ‘misused’ and under the leadership of seers, "we will force the government to change" it. 

He was speaking to media persons at a meeting here regarding preparations for a rally of seers called by him in Ayodhya on June 5. He has claimed 11 lakh seers will take part in the rally, according to the news agency PTI. 

Top wrestlers of the country, including Vinesh Phogat and Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, have been staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar in Delhi since April 23, demanding Singh's arrest for allegedly sexually harassing seven women grapplers, including a minor.

The Delhi Police has filed two FIRs against the WFI president. While the first FIR relates to allegations by the minor wrestler and has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the second is related to outraging modesty.

The WFI chief alleged the POCSO Act is being misused on a large scale. "This law is being misused against children, the elderly, and seers. Even officials are not immune to its misuse," the Kaiserganj MP claimed as quoted by PTI. 

“Under the leadership of seers, we will force the government to change the (POCSO) law. The law was brought by the Congress government without examining its various aspects," he added while reiterating that all the allegations against him are false.

The Sports Ministry has canceled all activities of the wrestling federation till the investigation into the allegations of the wrestlers is completed.

Singh has earlier also sought to equate grappler Vinesh Phogat with Manthara, a character in the Hindu epic Ramayana.

"The role that Manthara-Kaikeyi played in the Treta yug, similarly Vinesh Phogat is playing the role of Manthara for me," the WFI chief said. 

 

(With PTI inputs)

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Published: 26 May 2023, 09:23 AM IST
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