Amidst allegations of sexual harassment by wrestlers, the President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and BJP MP, Brij Bhushan Saran Singh, remains unfazed. The United World Wrestling (UWW), the international governing body, has expressed concern and warned of a potential suspension of the federation if a thorough probe is not conducted. Indian wrestlers, including Olympic medalists Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia, protested and threatened to immerse their medals in the River Ganga. They have given the government a five-day deadline to address the issue.
Singh vigorously denies the allegations, claiming innocence and challenging wrestlers to prove any small allegation against him. He questions the delay in filing the complaint, given that the alleged incident happened seven years ago. Singh alleges a conspiracy, stating that the wrestlers changed their demands from resignation to a POCSO case and arrest.
Singh questions the suspension of all federation activities and calls for the continuation of sporting events during the investigation. He suggests conducting elections and forming an ad-hoc committee to benefit wrestlers from different states. Singh asserts that wrestlers from other states support him but refrains from mobilizing them.
The UWW expresses disappointment with the investigation’s lack of results and condemns the treatment and detention of protesting wrestlers. They urge authorities to conduct an impartial probe while ensuring the wrestlers’ safety.
The allegations have caused a rift within the Indian wrestling community. Wrestlers seek justice and accountability, while Singh maintains his innocence and alleges a conspiracy. The UWW closely monitors the situation, ready to take action if a satisfactory resolution is not reached.