Top Wrestlers Accuses Federation Chief For Sexual Assault
India’ women wrestlers, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, on 18th of January accused BJP MP and WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment.
India’s most-famous women wrestlers, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, 18th of January accused BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment. Addressing the media on behalf of the women wrestler, the wrestlers staged a dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Vinesh Phogat said “Women wrestlers have been sexually harassed for years at national camps by coaches and also the WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Vinesh gave details of the ways in which national and international wrestlers were allegedly exploited by the WFI chief and coaches. She questioned why the camp happened in Lucknow? The reason it’s happening over there is that he has a house there and so it’s easy to exploit the girls. They trouble the sports persons too much. They get into our personal lives and relationships. They want to know everything. She knows about 10-20 girls who have been exploited in the national camp over the past 10 years. The wrestler said that she has also written to the PM and the Sports Minister. After giving these bold statements, the wrestler said she fears for her life since she was taking on powerful people. She said that those girls are scared because of their family background. They can’t fight against them because their families are not powerful. The wrestler said that she is protesting because she doesn't want the future generations to go through this sadness and pain. She added, “The kids are giving him gifts (cash, milk, ghee) to get their name into the national camp. Coaches too do the same to get into the national camp.” Shockingly, she said a person who accompanied the women’s team to Tokyo had no idea of women’s wrestling. It affected India’s medal chances as the wrestlers didn’t have any physio at the Tokyo Olympics.
Other wrestlers like Bajrang Punia, Sonam Malik and Anshu also supported Vinesh. Agreeing with Vinesh’s allegations and supporting her, Sakshi Malik said, “We have just come to save them. We are fighting for them. We will give the names of those who have been exploited to whoever is investigating the matter”. Bajrang Punia, while talking to the media, said that when sports persons win medals for India everyone celebrates, but after that nobody cares about how we are treated, especially by the federation. He mentioned that If they are promised by the PMO and the Home Minister’s office that their issues will be addressed, then they will stop their protest.
Vinod Tomar of the federation walked across to talk to the protesting wrestlers. He left as his attempt at negotiations failed. “WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh asked me to go talk to the protesting wrestlers and tell them that they can come to the WFI office and discuss all issues.” Rejecting all the accusations, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh told the media: “Is anyone saying that the WFI has sexually harassed a wrestler? Only Vinesh has said it. Has anyone come forward and said that they personally have been sexually harassed? Even if one wrestler comes forward and says that she has been sexually harassed, that day I can be hanged.” Reacting to the events, Swati Maliwal, chairperson of Delhi Commission for Women, issued a notice against Brij Bhushan, asking the Deputy Commissioner of Police and Sports Secretary to investigate and provide details of the matter.
