'Brij Bhushan Seems Quite Valuable To BJP': Congress Leader Calls Probe 'Brazenly Partisan And Biassed'

Moily questioned why the government or the home ministry would go out of their way to protect the accused in the serious POCSO case.

File Photo: Wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Sangeeta Phogat (Representational Image)

Source : PTI

M Veerappa Moily, a senior Congress leader, slammed the government for alleged "inaction" against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, saying he appears to be quite valuable in the BJP's scheme of things. According to the former Union minister, it is quite disturbing to see the wrestlers protesting and losing patience after a long fight for justice.

The criminal investigation, particularly into the WFI's chief, is "brazenly partisan and biassed," according to Moily.

In a statement, Moily said: "The law of the land is quite clear that there should be zero tolerance on sexual harassment. As the author of the world’s best and ideal law of POCSO, after the Nirbhaya tragedy, I do not understand how the accused, including BJP MP Brij Bushan Singh, were not arrested even after registration of a second FIR".

"The WFI president appears to be quite valuable in the BJP's scheme of things." While it has been established that no one can be punished without a fair investigation and trial, the issue at hand is one of probity, which should be held to the highest standards," the statement read.

Moily questioned why the government or the home ministry would go out of their way to protect the accused in the serious POCSO case.

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The Delhi Police has filed two FIRs against Singh. The FIRs filed on the basis of complaints from six female wrestlers and the father of a minor detail several alleged instances of sexual harassment, inappropriate touching, groping, stalking, and intimidation by Singh at various times and locations, including in foreign countries, over a decade.

Earlier in the day, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij referred to the protesting wrestlers as "national heroes" and warned them not to be used for political gain by opposition party leaders.

Invoking the 2020-21 farmers' protest that forced the Centre to repeal three farm laws, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait said farmers will take these "children," as he referred to the wrestlers, to Jantar Mantar on June 9.

Farmers in Uttar Pradesh held a "khap mahapanchayat" in solidarity with the athletes on Thursday, and protests were held in Punjab and Haryana.

Several Olympic and World Championship medalists have been protesting Singh's arrest, including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sangeeta Phogat.