IOA’s decision first step in our fight for justice: Protesting wrestlers
Protesting wrestlers on Sunday termed the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) decision to take over all activities of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) as the first step in their fight against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Top wrestlers of the country including Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat have been protesting at Jantar Mantar for the last 22 days. These wrestlers are demanding Brij Bhushan’s arrest for alleged sexual harassment of female wrestlers.
On May 12, the IOA asked the WFI secretary general to hand over all official documents to its ad-hoc committee to ensure that the outgoing office-bearers have no role in the running of the federation. The WFI said it has no problem in complying with the orders of the IOA as it is already cooperating with the authorities. Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Bajrang said, “This (dissolving the existing WFI) is the first step in our fight for justice. Our fight has started in the right direction, this is our victory. We will continue this, fight till we get justice.,
Asian Games gold medalist Vinesh lamented that not a single MP from the ruling party met the wrestlers to “support us in this fight for the dignity of women”. He said that from Monday, the protesting wrestlers will give letters by hand or through e-mail to all the women MPs of the ruling party seeking their support in this fight. “When he talks about the safety of women in the country, we are also his daughters and he should come forward and support us,” she said.
IOA’s three-member ad-hoc committee has made it clear that the process of electing new office-bearers of WFI will be completed within a time limit of 45 days and the charge will be handed back to the elected body. An official told PTI, “After the elections, the administrative powers will go to the WFI. The newly elected officers will run this federation.
