Wrestlers protest: ’IOA’s decision to take charge of WFI first step in our fight..’, says Bajrang Punia. 10 points
The country's top wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat, have been protesting at the Jantar Mantar for the last 22 days demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan for alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers
The protesting wrestlers termed the Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) decision to take charge of all the activities of the Wrestling Federation of India as the "first step" in their fight against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former WFI chief.
"This (the dissolution of the current WFI) is the first step in our fight for justice. Our fight has begun in right earnest, it's a victory for us... and we will continue or fight until we get justice," said Bajrang Punia, the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist.
The country's top wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat, have been protesting at the Jantar Mantar for the last 22 days demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan for alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers. However, Brij Bhushan has denied the allegation against him.
Here are 10 points you need to know:
1 The IOA, through its letter on May 12, asked the secretary general of WFI to hand over the official documents including financial instruments to its ad-hoc panel, making it clear the outgoing office bearers shall have no role in the running of the federation. The WFI said it has no issues in obeying the IOA order since they were already co-operating with the authorities.
2 Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat no woman parliamentarian from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has come to talk to the wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar to extend support in their fight for the dignity of women
3 She further added that from 15 May, the wrestlers will give letters by hand or via e-mail to all women parliamentarians of the ruling party to come and support them. "When they talk about the safety of women in the country, then we too are their daughters and they should come out and support us," she said.
4 Vinesh also requested the people gathered at Jantar Mantar to visit their respective district headquarters on May 16 and give a memorandum in support of the wrestlers. "We request the people supporting us to also launch a satyagraha andolan (nonviolent resistance) for just one day for the dignity of women," added Vinesh.
5 The IOA's three-member ad-hoc committee has made it clear that the process to elect new WFI office bearers will be completed within the 45-day time frame and that the charge will be handed back to the elected body. "Once the elections will be held, the administrative powers will go back to the WFI. The newly elected officials will run the show. It's just a temporary move that ad-hoc is managing the affairs of the federation," an official had told PTI.
6 Union Minister Anurag Thakur asked the protesting grapplers to end their protest and show faith in law and order, stating that the apex court has given its judgement and the Delhi Police is also recording statements in the matter.
7 Earlier the sports minister has been accused for not taking any action and suppressing the matter by forming a committee. "We ended our protest after talking to Union Sports Minister (Anurag Thakur), and all the athletes had told him about the sexual harassment. He by forming a committee tried to suppress the matter there; no action was taken that time," Vineeta Phogat had said.
8 Earlier on 12 May, on the complaint of the protesting wrestlers, a Delhi Police team went to Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka and Haryana to collect all the evidence against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
9 Delhi Police filed two FIRs on April 28 following the notice by the Supreme Court. Earlier this year, prominent wrestlers came forward to lead a protest against the WFI chief, following which the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Thakur, announced the formation of an 'oversight committee' to probe allegations against the WFI, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and some coaches. Wrestling Federation of India Assistant Secretary Vinod Tomar is also named as an accused in the FIR.
10 WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh had denied all the accusations and said that wrestler Bajrang Punia had asked someone to “arrange a girl" in order to level sexual harassment charges under the POCSO act. He had alleged that forces involved in 'Tukde Tukde gang', Shaheen Bagh, 'Kisaan Andolan' are involved in Wrestlers' protest. "I am not their target, party (BJP ) is their target, these athletes are paid. Protest is expanding like Shaheen Bagh, they want to divide UP and Haryana", Singh had told in an interview to news agency ANI.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Business NewsNewsIndiaWrestlers protest: ’IOA’s decision to take charge of WFI first step in our fight..’, says Bajrang Punia. 10 points
First Published:15 May 2023, 07:12 AM IST
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