NEW DELHI: The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has actually declined all the accusations, including that of unwanted sexual advances against its president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and claimed that the wrestlers demonstration was encouraged by a prejudice to dislodge the existing management .
The WFI rejected all the charges in its action to the federal governments notice and asserted that there is no scope for arbitrariness and mismanagement in the federation.Wrestlers Protest: As it happenedThe Sports Ministry had looked for a description from WFI after the countrys leading wrestlers sat on a dharna and alleged that the federation chief sexually pestered females wrestlers and acts like a dictator .
The WFI sent its reply on Friday evening and, couple of hours later, the wrestlers cancelled their demonstration after the government revealed that it will form an oversight committee to probe the charges.
It likewise stated the WFI chief will step aside till the investigation is over.
The WFI is managed by an elected body as per its constitution, and for that reason, there is no scope for arbitrariness and mismanagement in WFI by any one separately, consisting of the president, the WFI stated in its action to the Sports Ministry.
The WFI, in specific, under the sitting president has constantly acted keeping the best interests of wrestlers in mind.
The WFI has enhanced the image of wrestling sport nationally along with worldwide and for the record of this ministry, it is not possible without reasonable, supportive, clean and strict management of WFI, it added.The accusations were made by renowned wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Ravi Dahiya.The federation brought to the notification of the federal government that it has a five-member sexual harassment committee in place, chaired by its secretary general VN Prasood and which likewise has Sakshi as a member.It said the charges were motivated, prejudiced, unfounded, untrue and incorrect which the claims were made exclusively with a view to harm the president, the WFI and its coaches.
Any aggrieved person/wrestler may approach the stated committee for its complaints if any, and the committee is bound to ask based on law.
No such complaint of any such nature as has been gotten from the protestors/wrestlers, the WFI wrote.Supporters welcome Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh with garlands in battling event inspite of molestation chargesThe wrestlers, including young Anshu Malik, Sangeeta Phogat and Sonam Malik among others, began a sit-in demonstration at Jantar Mantar here on Wednesday and demanded the sacking of the WFI chief.The wrestlers likewise required that the WFI be disbanded instantly and a new panel is formed, consisting of grapplers.The WFI noted 23 nationwide occasions performed in 2022 and declared it speaks of reasonable, supportive, clean and stringent management .
The WFI questioned the timing of the protest, and stated beneficial interests are behind it.
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who have actually evidently acted more in individual interest or under excessive pressure or under any larger conspiracy to revile and defame the present management of the WFI or president for beneficial interest just.
The objecting wrestlers are accountable to describe for themselves, to the public as well as the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, particularly when mostly the protestors are seen coming together from a particulars region/state of Haryana, the federation composed.
It would likewise deserve drawing attention that even the next election of WFI is due in future of 2023 ...
that the protest is not in the best interest of the wrestlers, it has some personal in addition to hidden agenda to dislodge the existing management of WFI.
The letter, signed by WFI secretary general V N Prasood, likewise said that the federation is ready to cooperate with the federal government and will provide all the essential information the ministry seeks.