Wrestlers Protest Live: 'Oversight Committee' To Probe Harassment Allegations
Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik & Bajrang Punia are leading a protest against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan. Stay tuned.
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Indian Wrestlers Protest LIVE News Updates: Amidst ongoing wrestlers' protest, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has formed a seven-member committee to probe the allegations of sexual harassment against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
This comes after wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, sakshi Malik, among others, filed an official complaint with IOA on Friday, as the protests entered its third consecutive day.
Speaking to The Quint, Punia stressed that no businessman or politician was involved in the protests. "They (the wrestling federation) are trying to politicise this," he added.
The biggest names in Indian wrestling came forward on Wednesday to make allegations of sexual harassment against federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Watch full presser here.
An official complaint has been sent to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) by the protesting wrestlers regarding the sexual harassment allegations against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Vinesh, Sakshi, Bajrang Punia continue to protest at Jantar Mantar for a third day, despite a late night meeting with Sports Minister on Thursday.
Bhushan, a BJP MP, who was expected to hold a press conference on Friday to 'expose political conspiracy', will now address the media on 22 January, his son confirmed.
'Will Address the Press on 22 January': WFI President's Son
Pratik Bhushan Singh, son of WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, on Friday evening said that his father will address the press on 22 January, regarding the allegations levelled against him.
"We're not formally authorized to speak anything on this issue. He (Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh) will address the media on 22 January on Annual General Meet of WFI. We've given our official statement to Sports Ministry," he said.
Wrestlers Arrive at Sports Minister's Residence
Protesting wrestlers have arrived at Sports Minister Anurag Thakur's residence to discuss the allegations levelled against WFI chief.
They also met the minister on Thursday.
‘Will Come Back Again if There Is No Resultion Today’: Vinesh
Vinesh Phogat, on of the protesting wrestlers, said that they placed their demand before Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday.
They will be meeting the minister again on Friday at 6 pm.
"If there's no resolution today, we'll be back tomorrow, and you might get to see a wrestling match because we will practice here (Jantar Mantar)," she said.
While addressing a question about why they have not filed an FIR yet, she said that "this is a sensitive issue. We are wrestlers of India and if we make all facts public, there will be a storm. This is not just a matter of wrestling, it's a matter of women's lives. The girls have families and there are lives involved. it's not that easy."
Meeting With Sports Minister at 6 pm
Amidst the ongoing protest, wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik are expected to meet Sports Minister Anurag Thakur at residence in Delhi on Friday.
IOA Calls for Emergency Meeting
Hours after wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, among others filed a complaint with IOA against WFI president, the olympic body has called for an emergency executive council meeting to discuss their demand.
'Big Powers Behind the Protest': WFI President
WFI president, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, on Friday said that protest against him is not just an attack on him, but an attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party.
"The protest by wrestlers against me is the dharna of Shaheen Bagh," Singh, who is also a sixth-time Lok Sabha MP from UP's Kaisarganj constituency, told reporters in his native place here.
"I had earlier said that there was a conspiracy, and big powers are behind it. Now those forces are coming out in the open." he added.
"The picture becomes more clear with the tweets and statements by Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Deepinder Hooda. This attack is not only on me, but on the BJP through me," Singh had said.
'No Businessman or Politician Involved': Bajrang Punia
"There's no businessman or politician involved as he is claimed. This is our fight and they are trying to politicse it," Bajrang Punia told The Quint.
Speaking to the press, he added, "We have risked our career to be here. Everybody here has risked their career. They used to threaten us with life."
'Will Leave Once Demands Are Met': Bajrang Punia
Addressing the press at Jantar Mantar, Bajrang Punia reiterated that the wrestlers will leave once their demands are met.
They added,
Further, they urged no politician to join the protest. "No politician should come here, this is a flight of the wrestlers."
Wrestlers File Official Complaint With IOA, List 4 Demands
In an official correspondence to the President of Indian Olympic Association, PT Usha, Vinesh Phogat and other prominent athletes list out four demands.
These include:
Appointment of committee to investigate sexual harassment complaints
Resignation of WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh
Dissolution of WFI
Appointment of new committee to run WFI, in consultation with wrestler
Vinesh, Bajrang, Sakshi Arrive at Jantar Mantar
At 12:30pm, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia arrived at the sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar. They are expected to address the media shortly.
'PM’s Silence is Shameful’: Vijender Singh at Congress Press Conference
Addressing the press conference at the Congress headquarters, boxer and INC leader Vijender Singh said, "Prime Minister's long silence on this issue is very shameful."
Singh and athlete Krishna Poonia also advocated for disbanding of not only the WFI, but also of associated state federations.
They added, "Athletes should be involved in the decision-making processes."
Congress Holds Press Conference Amid Protests
The Congress party, including boxer Vijender Singh and Krishna Poonia, are holding a press conference as wrestlers' resume their third day of protests.
In Touch With Sports Ministry, Response Will be Sent Soon: WFI
Speaking to The Quint, assistant secretary of WFI, Vinod Tomar said, "Yes, we have been in touch in with the Ministry. Our official response on this matter will be sent to them by today afternoon."
He added, "Our president will be addressing the press today at 4pm, but the 'extraordinary general meeting' we had planned for 22nd January will be going ahead as per schedule - it does not stand cancelled."
Athletes Begin to Assemble at Protest Site
The protests entered their third day as junior wrestlers marked their presence at the sit-in protest on Friday.
No Sign of Wrestlers at Jantar Mantar
Wrestlers still awaited at 11 am on the third day of protests against the WFI president, and the protest site was cordoned off.
(Photo: The Quint)
(Photo: The Quint)
(Photo: The Quint)
(Photo: The Quint)
(Photo: The Quint)
Vijender Singh Joins Protests
Boxer Vijender Singh, as well as former boxer Manoj Kumar joined protests against the WFI president on Friday.
Singh is also a member of the Congress party.
Vijender Singh at protest site.
(Photo: The Quint)
Vijender Singh and Manoj Kumar.
Vijender Singh and Manoj Kumar.
Vijender Singh and Manoj Kumar.
Yesterday's Lowdown: 4-Hour Meeting With Sports Min Ends in Deadlock
A late night four-hour long meeting between the wrestlers and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur ended in a deadlock as the wrestlers departed from his New Delhi residence at 1:50 am on Friday morning.
It has been learned that Thakur gave Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia assurances of action if their allegations were found to be true.
This was the wrestlers' second meeting with a Sports Ministry official on Thursday, with Sakshi, Vinesh, and Bajrang having spoken to Sports Secretary Sujata Chaturvedi, Director General SAI Sandip Pradhan, and Joint Secretary (Sports) Kunal earlier in the day.
Following the meeting in the morning, Sakshi Malik said, "We were just gives assurances in the meeting. There was no concrete decision of action. We are not satisfied. We want the entire federation to be disbanded."
WFI Press Conference Postponed to 4 PM Today
Sanjay Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary of WFI, says that the press conference has been postponed to 4pm.
WFI President to Address the Press at Noon
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will hold a press conference at 12 noon at the Wrestling Training Centre in Nawabganj, Uttar Pradesh's Gonda district.
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