The President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is currently in controversy as several wrestlers in the country have accused him of sexual harassment.
Image Credit source: File Pic
The Indian sports world is currently in discussion due to the ongoing controversies in wrestling. Veteran wrestling players of the country have made serious allegations against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for sexual exploitation. Due to this, many wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat, Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia, Ravi Dahiya, Sakshi Malik were sitting on strike. Both of them had also lodged a written complaint with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The IOA has constituted a seven-member committee in this matter, in which Olympic medalist Yogeshwar Dutt is also there. Yogeshwar has said that the players who made the allegations have not yet given any proof and the investigation is still going on in this matter.
The protesting players had written a letter to IOA President PT Usha on Friday and lodged their complaint in writing. In this letter, he had accused Brij Bhushan of sexual exploitation of women players, of not paying the contract amount in full. Along with this, there was also a demand to dissolve WFI and remove Bhushan from the post of president.
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The committee held a virtual meeting
After receiving the complaint in this matter, the committee held a virtual meeting on Saturday in which Abhinav Bindra was also involved. In a special conversation with ., Yogeshwar said, “No evidence has been given so far by the agitating wrestlers, only a complaint has been filed, any allegation without proof will be baseless, at present the investigation is on.
Report will be submitted to Sports Ministry and Prime Minister
Yogeshwar has said that the inquiry committee will submit its report not only to the Sports Ministry but also to the Prime Minister. He has said that apart from sexual harassment, there is no substance in the other allegations against Bhushan. Yogeshwar, who won the bronze medal in London Olympics-2012, said, “The committee will submit the report not only to the Sports Ministry but also to the Prime Minister. Apart from sexual harassment as per rules, there is no substance in the rest of the allegations. If there is a demand from women wrestlers that a woman wrestler should also be included in the inquiry committee of IOA, then the inquiry committee will definitely consider it.
reforms in the federation
Yogeshwar has said that the federation has already made a lot of improvements in comparison. He said, “There has been a lot of improvement in terms of facilities from the Federation, earlier players used to spend whole day in just 2 fruttis and now all the facilities are available. The allegation is very serious, but a lot of effort is being made to give it a political colour.”
Watch the video to listen to the full interview