Govt suspends WFI Assistant Secretary Vinod Tomar as wrestlers continue protest
1 min read . Updated: 21 Jan 2023, 10:05 PM IST
PremiumThe Ministry of Sports suspended Wrestling Federation of India Assistant Secretary Vinod Tomar on Saturday evening, hours after he termed the charges levelled against the federation's president 'baseless'.
The Ministry of Sports suspended Wrestling Federation of India Assistant Secretary Vinod Tomar on Saturday evening. As protests against the WFI continue, the government has also cancelled the Open championship that was slated to begin in Gonda.
The development came mere hours after the WFI official termed the charges levelled against the federation's president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh 'baseless' and questioned the agitating wrestlers for not ‘producing evidence’. Meanwhile the grapplers continue to sit in dharna at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, having levelled allegations of sexual harassment and financial impropriety against the WFI chief.
"The allegations are baseless. It has been three to four days (since the wrestlers sat in protest) and they still haven't produced any evidence. I have been associated with them for the past 12 years and I never came across any such incident or allegation," Tomar had told news agency ANI.
He added that the Singh had stepped aside from his post and "distanced himself from the day-to-day affairs of the WFI" as the allegations are probed by the Union Sports ministry.
Reports quoting sources in the ministry indicated that Tomar's presence will be "detrimental to the development of this high-priority discipline".
Sources also said that the soon-to-be-formed oversight committee of the ministry will have the powers to take all decisions on matters concerning Indian wrestling.
(With inputs from agencies)