Wrestlers' Protest LIVE: Vinesh Phogat, Seven Others Move SC Seeking Registration Of FIR Against WFI Chief
Wrestlers Protest LIVE Updates: Follow this page for all the updates and Breaking News pertaining to wrestlers protest that resumed in Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
Sports Authority of India (SAI) representatives are at Jantar Mantar to hold talks with wrestlers who have been protesting against WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. [ANI]
The Sports Ministry on Monday stalled the scheduled May 7 elections of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to constitute an ad-hoc committee to conduct the polls within 45 days of its formation and also manage the sports body.
READ MORE | Wrestlers' Protest: Govt Asks IOA To Form Ad-Hoc Panel To Conduct Polls, Stalls May 7 WFI Election
Vinesh Phogat and seven other wrestlers move Supreme Court seeking registration of FIR against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president, Brij Bhushan Singh, as reported by the news agency ANI.
Vinesh Phogat and seven other wrestlers move Supreme Court seeking registration of FIR against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president, Brij Bhushan Singh, as reported by the news agency ANI.
"This time, all parties are welcome to join our protest whether it is BJP, Congress, AAP or any other party.....we're not affiliated with any party," Bajrang Punia as quoted by ANI.
Amid the protest by wrestlers against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh, Delhi Police has started a probe into their complaint. Police have sought a report from the probe committee that was set up by the Sports Ministry, says Delhi Police, as reported by ANI.
India's top wrestlers resumed their protest against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over the allegations of sexual harassment at the Jantar Mantar in the national capital on Sunday. "Wrestlers protest unjustified. They were heard by the minister and the Ministry. The Minister sat with them in a meeting for over 12 hours. On their demand, a committee was formed. They further asked for the addition of another name that too was done! They cannot be protesting till the entire report is examined," news agency ANI quoted a top government source.
Sources said WFI wanted to hold its election, but it will not be allowed by the government till the Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh matter is sorted out. Till the matter is sorted out, the government will ask the Indian Olympic Association to look after the day-to-day matters of the association, as reported by ANI.
"On their front, the government is putting a hold on the Wrestling Federation election. The government will ask Indian Olympic Association or set up a Committee of Administrators to run the matter till then," said the source close to ANI. The source further said, "The wrestlers are demanding that Anurag Thakur should have met them, but since the enquiry is ongoing and that the enquiry was set up by the Sports Ministry under Thakur. It would be unfair to meet the wrestlers at this stage. But the government, especially the Sports Minister has constantly engaged with the wrestlers. Earlier, the Minister gave them a hearing for over 13 hours before announcing the committee."
According to sources, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had dropped his programme in Himachal Pradesh to join a meeting with protesting wrestlers. "The wrestlers did not turn around in the morning but came late in the evening. Even then also Anurag Thakur cancelled all his appointments and waited for them and then the committee was announced. The committee was announced as per the demand of the wrestlers, and when they asked for an additional member, even that was honoured by the government," added the source.
The police will act according to their procedure. There should be justice. The committee has given its report to the ministry, it is the duty of the court to punish someone and acquit someone: Yogeshwar Dutt, former wrestler and member of the committee that probed the allegations of sexual harassment of wrestlers at the demonstration of wrestlers at Jantar Mantar.
"I went to take my medicine and wasn't allowed to enter the site. They (police) aren't allowing water and food to be taken to the site," alleges Wrestler Vinesh Phogat amid wrestlers protest against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh.
"Seven girls, including a minor, filed a complaint at CP Police Station against Brijbhushan Singh regarding sexual harassment but FIR yet to be filed. There must be POCSO case. We've been waiting for 2.5 months," said the protesting wrestlers in Delhi.
Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik break down while interacting with the media as they protest against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh
Background
Wrestlers Protest LIVE: Hello and welcome to ABP Live. Follow ABP Live's blog to get the breaking news, latest updates, and other developing stories pertaining to wrestlers protest that resumed in Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
Top wrestlers of India who staged a protest earlier this year against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh have resumed their agitation at Delhi's Jantar Mantar with a fresh police complaint. Seven women wrestlers have registered a sexual harassment complaint against federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh at the Connaught Place police station in Central Delhi and according to them, a First Information Report (FIR) is yet to be filed.
"We have been going through mental torture, it's about the respect of women athletes...We aren't receiving any response from Sports Ministry, it's been 3 months," the protesting wrestlers said.
"We are going to sleep and eat here till we get justice. We have been trying to contact them (Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and other relevant authority) for three months. The members of the committee are not responding to us, sports ministry has also not said anything, they don't even pick up our calls. We have won medals for the country and have put our careers at stake for this," Vinesh Phogat said.
Delhi Police said that so far seven complaints have been received in a sexual harassment case involving women wrestlers. The police statement came after the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal issued a notice to Delhi Police for allegedly failing to register an FIR in a sexual harassment case involving women wrestlers.
“Several women wrestlers of the country had given a complaint of sexual harassment against the WFI President at Connaught Place Police Station two days ago. One of the complainants is also a minor. Till now the Delhi Police has not registered an FIR in the matter, which is against the law. Have given notice to police, reply to DCW in 48 hours,” Maliwal tweeted.
Slamming Delhi Police for refusing to file an FIR against Brij Bhushan Sharan, Vinesh Phogat said, “It's been 3 months, and we haven't got justice, that's why we are protesting again. We demand justice, FIR has not been registered yet. We are grateful that DCW is supporting us.”
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