The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has been called amid the ongoing battle between the wrestlers and its governing body in the country. The AGM was scheduled to start at 10 AM on Sunday in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya. Now, it has been called off, reported ANI.
The latest development comes after the central government on Saturday suspended WFI Assistant Secretary Vinod Tomar. The government also suspended all WFI activities until an Oversight Committee is formally appointed and takes over the day-to-day operations of the WFI. This includes the suspension of any ongoing ranking competitions as well as the refund of any entry fees collected from participants for any ongoing activities.
Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda on Thursday demanded a CBI and Supreme Court-monitored probe against WFI after wrestlers raised serious allegations, including sexual harassment against the WFI President Brij Bhushan Singh. Speaking on the same, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, "The safety of our women athletes is very important and we take it seriously. We will not let their morale down. All the issues raised by the athletes will be taken seriously."
Rekha Sharma, Chairman of the National Commission for Women (NCW) on Thursday said, "NCW has not received a single complaint from any of those wrestlers who’re protesting. If anybody lodges a complaint with us, we will immediately conduct a probe & take action."
Earlier, protesting wrestlers met Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday. During the protest, wrestler Vinesh Phogat said, "Will make sure Brij Bhushan Singh resigns and jailed".
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha on Thursday said she is "deeply concerned and disturbed" by the sexual harassment allegations by renowned wrestlers against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. She added that the national Olympic body will do everything possible to safeguard the interest of the country's women athletes.
Vijender Singh, the Olympian Boxer & Congress leader joined the protest and demanded a CBI probe into the matter.