Wrestlers unhappy with government’s assurance ready to lodge FIR against WFI president
The country’s top wrestlers on Thursday vowed to intensify their protest, saying the government has given them only assurances, no “satisfactory answer” and they will quit the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) if it is not dissolved with immediate effect. Several FIRs will be lodged against Speaker Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Wrestlers continued their sit-in at Jantar Mantar for the second consecutive day and were joined by more wrestlers who termed it as a fight to ‘reinvigorate Indian wrestling’.
They are protesting against the WFI president who has been accused of sexual harassment and bullying. Three-time Commonwealth Games medalist and BJP leader Babita Phogat on Thursday became the ‘messenger’ of the government and assured fulfillment of their demands to the wrestlers sitting on a dharna, demanding dissolution of the Wrestling Federation of India. Wrestlers also shared their bad experiences.
Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Ravi Dahiya called for more support, while youngster Anshu Malik recalled how the WFI president’s presence at the players’ hotel during the World Junior Championships in Bulgaria last year made women wrestlers uncomfortable. Significantly, 21-year-old Anshu did not participate in this competition because she was injured.
The wrestlers’ team, which included three-time Commonwealth champion Vinesh Phogat and Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik and her husband Satyavrat Kandyan, was then called for a meeting with the government. All of them also discussed their issues with Sports Secretary Sujata Chaturvedi, Sports Authority of India Director General Sandeep Pradhan and Joint Secretary (Sports) Kunal.
In an hour-long meeting, the wrestlers were asked to call off their protest and assured that their grievances would be addressed. However, the wrestlers wanted concrete and immediate action and decided to continue their protest until the WFI president was removed from office and the national federation was dissolved along with all its state wrestling associations in the country.
Talking to the media later, Vinesh did not reveal the details of the meeting but said, “Unfortunately we did not get a satisfactory answer. Vinesh, a two-time world championship winner, said, “Yesterday only 1-2 of us wrestlers were victims but now there are five-six wrestlers who were harassed (sexually abused). We cannot name them now, they are also someone’s daughter-sister. But if we are forced to identify them, it will be a ‘Black Day’. ,
Vinesh said, “We don’t just want his (WFI president) resignation. We will send them to jail. We did not want to take legal action as we were hopeful that a solution would be found but if a proper solution is not provided then we will file an FIR against the Speaker. He said, “We are world championship and Olympic medalists so don’t doubt us, we are telling the truth, trust us.” ,
It is learned that the WFI has called an emergency general council meeting in Ayodhya on Sunday to discuss the issue. A WFI official said, “Yes, a meeting has been called and the future course of action will be discussed in it. I cannot tell whether the WFI president will resign or not. This has to be discussed. This is Brij Bhushan’s third term as WFI president which is expiring soon and he is ineligible to contest for re-election.
He was elected the WFI President for the third time in February 2019. According to the National Sports Code, a person can hold the post of president for three terms or 12 years without any break, after which he cannot return. Bajrang said, “The entire wrestling fraternity is here. We have proof, we are not lying. We want to keep wrestling, want to start a new life. ,
Twenty-eight-year-old Vinesh claimed that women wrestlers from Kerala and Maharashtra called her and praised her for raising the issue. “At least five to six girls will file an FIR tomorrow and if this happens in a country like India where Durga and Lakshmi are worshipped, it will be a ‘black day’,” he said. Then I would say that no woman is safe in this country and no daughter should be born here. ,
When asked about the details of the meeting held with the government representatives, Vinesh said, “They have given no timeline, just assurances. He said, “Now everything is at stake. We don’t even have police protection and are sitting here. But where is the WFI president, his office is closed. Where are those eyes that used to scare us. ,
When reminded that London Olympic medalist Yogeshwar Dutt and Asian Championship medalist Divya Kakran have supported the WFI president, Vinesh said, “Yogeshwar is definitely sitting on the lap of the WFI president and Kakran himself.” Spoke against him for which we have proof. ,
He said, “All the videos in support of the WFI president have been made where his ‘terror den’ is, people should come here and make videos at Jantar Mantar. “We want the government to take control of the WFI,” he said. We will not participate in any competition under the current president. On the other hand, CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat, who reached the protest site in support of the wrestlers, was asked by the wrestlers to leave saying that they do not want to give political color to this demonstration.Bajrang said, “We request you madam not to make it political.” While the National Commission for Women said that the wrestlers can come to it with their complaints.
