Sports Minister Invites Protesting Wrestlers For Talks Days After Meeting With Amit Shah

Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has invited protesting wrestlers to discuss 'their issues' days after they had a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has invited protesting wrestlers to discuss 'their issues' days after they had a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. ( Image Source :Twitter/@BajrangPunia )

Days after their meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has invited the wrestlers, protesting against WFI chief Brij Bhushan with allegations of sexual harassment against him, to discuss 'their issues' with him. In a later night tweet, he said, "The government is willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues. I have once again invited the wrestlers for the same."

The government is willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues.

I have once again invited the wrestlers for the same.

— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) June 6, 2023

Farmers' Body Bhartiya Kisan Union has called off its June 9 protest After wrestlers met Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Wrestlers demanding a probe against wrestling chief Brij Bhushan, met Shah on Saturday. Several ace grapplers including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik have been protesting against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh accusing him of sexual harassment and demanding his arrest. "They shared their concern with the Home Minister. The meeting was long and he listened to everything. But koi decision nhi hua abhi tak (no decision has been reached so far)," a source close to the wrestlers told IANS.

The Delhi Police on Wednesday recorded statements of associates and workers of Wrestling Federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh at his home in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda in connection with the charges of sexual harassment against him by wrestloers. They also said the girl whose statement was the basis of a case being registered against Singh under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has recorded a fresh statement under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) section 164.

The officials said police are collecting evidence in connection with the case filed against the BJP MP, and will submit a report in court accordingly. "A team of Delhi Police visited Gonda and recorded statements of Singh's associates and those working at his house, including his driver. This is being done as part of further investigation to collect evidence and corroborate versions of the witnesses with that of Singh and the complainants in the case," an official told news agency ANI.