'Protesters Acted In Personal Interest To Defame Management': WFI Rejects Wrestlers' Allegations
The WFI sent its reply on Friday evening after being asked by the sports ministry to respond to the allegations levelled against it within 72 hours.
New Delhi: The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Saturday rejected all the allegations, including that of sexual harassment against its president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and said "there is no scope for arbitrariness and mismanagement " in the sports body.
"The WFI is managed by an elected body as per its constitution, and therefore, there is no scope for arbitrariness and mismanagement in WFI by any one individually, including the president," the WFI said in response to the sports ministry.
"The WFI, in particular, under the sitting president has always acted keeping the best interests of wrestlers in mind. The WFI has enhanced the image of wrestling sport nationally as well as internationally and for the record of this ministry, it is not possible without fair, supportive, clean and strict management of WFI," the federation added.
It further said that the protest has some personal and hidden agenda to dislodge the current management.
“Protesters have acted more in personal interest or under undue pressure to malign and defame present sitting management of WFI,” the federation said.
Notably, the WFI sent its reply on Friday evening after being asked by the sports ministry to respond to the allegations levelled against it within 72 hours.
The allegations were made by renowned wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Ravi Dahiya.
Meanwhile, the agitating grapplers decided to call of the protest following assurances from the government, including temporary sidelining WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The government further decided to form an oversight committee which will investigate the allegations of sexual harassment of women wresters by the WFI chief. The committee, members of which are yet to be named, will also oversee the day-to-day affairs of the federation.
"It has been decided that an oversight committee will be formed, names for which will be announced tomorrow (Saturday). The committee will complete its investigation within four weeks. It will thoroughly probe all the allegations be it financial or sexual harassment that have been levelled against WFI and its chief," Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said.
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