The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has rejected all allegations against its president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, including that of sexual harassment, saying there is “no room for dictatorship and mismanagement” in the sports body. The WFI, in its reply to the government’s notice, denied all the allegations. The Sports Ministry had sought an explanation from the WFI after the country’s top wrestlers sat on a dharna. These wrestlers had alleged that the federation chief sexually assaulted women wrestlers and acted like a ‘dictator’.
The WFI sent its reply on Friday evening. Hours earlier, the government announced an inquiry into the allegations following which the wrestlers called off their protest. Singh said he would step down from the post of WFI chief till the probe is completed. The WFI in its reply to the Sports Ministry said, “WFI is managed by an elected body as per its constitution, as such there is no scope for individual arbitrariness and mismanagement in WFI by any one including the President.”
It said, “WFI, especially under the supervision of the present President, has always worked keeping in mind the best interests of the wrestlers.” and it is necessary to state for the record of this Ministry that this would not have been possible without fair, supportive, clean and strict management of WFI. After this, the Sports Ministry had sought a reply from the WFI within 72 hours.
The federation brought to the notice of the government that it has a five-member sexual harassment committee headed by its general secretary VN Prasad and of which Sakshi is also a member. It said that the allegations are ‘motivated, biased, baseless and false’ and have been leveled only with the objective of harming the President, WFI and its coaches. The WFI said, “Any aggrieved person/wrestler may approach the said committee with their grievances, and the committee is bound to conduct an inquiry as per law. No such complaints have been received from the protesters/wrestlers.
Veteran wrestlers including Anshu Malik, Sangeeta Phogat and Sonam Malik along with others began a sit-in at Jantar Mantar here on Wednesday, demanding the sacking of the WFI chief. The wrestlers also demanded that the WFI be dissolved immediately and a new panel consisting of wrestlers be formed. WFI listed 23 national events to be held in 2022 and claimed that it ‘speaks of fair, supportive, clean and strict management’. The WFI questioned the timing of the protest and said vested interests were behind it.
“It is clear that this protest is part of a larger conspiracy to malign the current management of WFI or the President in personal interest or under undue pressure or just for vested interest,” the federation wrote. The participating wrestlers are responsible for explaining the matter to the public as well as the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Most of these protestors come from a particular region/state, Haryana.
He said, “It is also worth noting that the next election of WFI is also going to be held in the near future of 2023. As such, this protest is not in the best interest of the wrestlers, it has some personal and hidden agenda to defame the present management of WFI. The letter, signed by WFI general secretary VN Prasad, also said that the federation will cooperate with the government. Is ready for and will provide all necessary information sought by the Ministry.
