New Delhi: On April 22, seven women wrestlers filed a police complaint against BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexual harassment, reported Indian Express.
The wrestlers also resumed their sit-down protest against Singh, and the lack of response from the government regarding the issue, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on April 23.
On Sunday night, the wrestlers reportedly “slept on a footpath” as part of their protest.
Podium से फुटपाथ तक।
आधी रात खुले आसमान के नीचे न्याय की आस में। pic.twitter.com/rgaVTM5WGK
— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) April 23, 2023
Allegations of sexual harassment
Seven wrestlers have filed a police complaint against Singh, president of the WFI, accusing him of sexual harassment. He was elected president of the WFI for a third consecutive term in February 2019. Singh is also a BJP MP from Kaiserganj, Uttar Pradesh.
Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia confirmed that a police complaint had been lodged at New Delhi’s Connaught Place police station, reported ANI.
A complaint has been filed with the Delhi Commission for Women, too, IE reported. It quoted the commission chief Swati Maliwal as saying that “several women including a minor have alleged that the accused person has indulged in the crime of sexual harassment against them during his tenure at the helm of Wrestling Federation of India”.
ANI also reported on April 23 that Maliwal issued notice to the Delhi Police for reportedly failing to register an FIR in the matter. The wrestlers had told the Commission that they had given a written complaint to Delhi Police two days ago but their FIR had not been registered yet.
Indian Express quoted a police officer saying that they had received a complaint from the wrestlers at the station, and that they had begun their enquiry before filing an FIR.
‘No action being taken’
IE quoted one wrestler as saying that they had taken this step since there has been “no action” taken even though they lodged their protest with the sports ministry. “We are now waiting for the police to take further action,” IE quoted the wrestler as saying.
The wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshee Malikkh, also resumed their sit-down protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Sunday.
“We have just one issue. The reason for the protest is that nothing has been done so far…We are here to save wrestling. We will sit at 4 pm and talk,” ANI quoted wrestler Punia as saying as he headed to Jantar Mantar on the day.
Wrestlers Phogat and Malikkh broke down while interacting with the media during their sit-down protest on Sunday, ANI reported.
“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 three months,” said Phogat and other wrestlers at the protest.
The government had appointed an Oversight Committee headed by boxing legend Mary Kom on January 23 to probe the allegations against Singh by the wrestlers. However, though the report has been submitted, it has not been made public yet.
Phogat had said earlier this month that they had “lost faith” in the committee. Though they had received assurances from the government, those were not fulfilled either, Phogat had added.
In January, Phogat alleged that Singh has been sexually exploiting women wrestlers for many years. Singh has vehemently denied the charge. Phogat had also said that had met home minister Amit Shah who had assured them that they would get justice.