Wrestlers vs WFI Updates: Bajrang Punia To Join SFI’s Protest In DU; Representatives of 360 Delhi Villages to Visit Jantar Mantar
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait speaks as wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sangita Phogat look on during the wrestlers’ protest at Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi, Tuesday, May 2, 2023. (PTI Photo/Manvender Vashist Lav)
The wrestlers have been staging a sit-in since April 23 over allegations of sexual harassment against BJP MP, who has completed 12 years as WFI President and is ineligible to become an office bearer
The face-off between some of India’s top wrestlers and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh continues as the protest at Jantar Mantar entered the 11th day, with both sides refusing to budge. The protesting wrestlers are set to join a march on Wednesday, organised by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) from the University of Delhi against Brij Bhushan.
As wrestlers’ representative, Olympian Bajrang Punia will join the SFI march in Delhi University, sources said.
Representatives of 360 villages in Delhi, including MLAs and councillors of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), will also visit Jantar Mantar today to express solidarity with the wrestlers staging a protest, demanding the arrest of the wrestling federation chief over sexual harassment charges.
“On Wednesday, representatives of 360 villages, including councillors and MLAs, will visit Jantar Mantar at 11 am to support the protesting wrestlers. A strategy for the movement will also be chalked out. The voices of these players will reach every village,” AAP’s Delhi unit convenor Gopal Rai said.
Wrestlers Vs WFI
The wrestlers have been staging a sit-in since April 23 over allegations of sexual harassment against BJP MP, who has completed 12 years as WFI President and is ineligible to become an office bearer.
The protesters have been demanding criminal action against Singh for the alleged sexual harassment and intimidation of seven female wrestlers, including a minor.
The protesting wrestlers had moved the Supreme Court seeking the registration of FIRs against the WFI chief, following which the Delhi Police have filed two FIRs, including one under the POCSO Act, against the BJP MP.
Booked for alleged sexual exploitation, Singh has vowed to fight the charges and alleged that the opposition parties were “tutoring” the players. He claimed that the protesting wrestlers want to take over the WFI and that only one family- the Phogats- are behind the protest.
The claim was, however, countered by wrestler Bajrang Punia, who asserted that protesters don’t want to control WFI.
“To be in WFI, you have to be a member of a state association. We don’t want control of WFI…His (Brij Bhushan) son is the president of the UP Association, and his son’s brother-in-law is the secretary. His son-in-law is also a member of a state association. He is accusing us of nepotism while it is happening in his case,” Punia claimed.
Following this, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh also targeted Punia and claimed the ‘conspiracy’ against him was hatched by Congress leader Deepender Hooda and Punia.
“We have an audio to prove this that will be handed over to the Delhi Police when the time comes,” he claimed.
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