The Indian Panorama

Tag: WFI

  • Govt didn’t follow ‘proper procedure’ while suspending WFI: Wrestling body chief

    Newly-elected WFI president Sanjay Singh on Thursday, December 28, said that the sports ministry did not follow “proper procedure” while suspending the wrestling national body and will challenge the government’s decision in a court. The sports ministry on Sunday suspended the WFI, three days after its elections were held, for flouting its own constitution while taking certain decisions, including the announcement of U-15 and U-20 National Championships.
    Sanjay, however, said that his “autonomous” and “democratically elected” body could not have been suspended by the government without hearing the WFI’s side of the story.
    “We have won the elections (of WFI) democratically. The returning officer was the retired chief justice of J&K High Court, there were observers from the IOA and UWW (United World Wrestling). There were 22 state units (three absent out of 25 state associations) taking part in the elections, 47 votes were polled out of which I got 40,” Sanjay told PTI.
    “After all these, if you say we are suspended, we are not going to accept it. A democratically-elected body was not given a chance to explain its position which is against the principle of natural justice which everybody is entitled to under the Constitution of India.”
    Asked what is the way forward for his body, he said, “WFI is an autonomous body and the government has not followed proper procedure. We are going to talk to the government and if it (government) does not take back the suspension, we are taking legal opinion and going to court.” He said since the WFI is contesting the suspension, he does not accept the three-member ad-hoc committee formed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Wednesday to run the day-to-day affairs of the national sports body.
    He said the visit by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in an akhada in Haryana to meet Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia made it clear that the trio, who led the five-month-long protest accusing former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually harassing women grapplers, were playing politics.

     

  • Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s aide wins WFI poll, Sakshi Malik quits wrestling

    Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s aide wins WFI poll, Sakshi Malik quits wrestling

    New Delhi (TIP)- Rio Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik on Thursday, December 21, announced her retirement from the sport, protesting against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh loyalist Sanjay Singh winning the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) election for the top job, here. Sanjay, a close associate of outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan became the new WFI president with his panel winning 13 of the 15 posts in the elections here on Thursday, December 21. “We fought from our heart, but if a man like Brij Bhushan, his business partner and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, I quit wrestling,” said a teary-eyed Sakshi, and kept her shoes on the table in a dramatic announcement. “We wanted a female president but that did not happen,” the 31-year-old, who is also a CWG gold medallist, added.
    Ahead of the elections, Oylmpic medal-winning grapplers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi had repeatedly requested Sports Minister Anurag Thakur to stop anyone associated with Brij Bhushan from contesting the WFI polls. Consequently, neither Brij Bhushan’s son Prateek nor son-in-law Vishal Singh entered the fray. Bajrang and Vinesh Phogat, who addressed media after elections, did not say whether they will retire from the sport.
    “It’s unfortunate that government did not stand by its word that no Brij Bhushan loyalist will contest WFI election,” Bajrang said.
    “Upcoming women wrestlers will also face exploitation,” Vinesh added. Source: PTI

  • If proven guilty, WFI president may get maximum 5-year jail

    If proven guilty, WFI president may get maximum 5-year jail

    The Delhi Police have filed a 1,500-page chargesheet against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh under Sections 354, 354A and 354D of the IPC and if proven guilty, he could get a maximum five-year jail term. Sources in the police said the charges were based on elaborate statements of all the six women wrestlers. Though more than 200 statements of witnesses were recorded as “supporting evidence”, only those relevant and backing the allegations levelled by the wrestlers were mentioned in the chargesheet, they said.
    Section 354 deals with cases of “outraging a woman’s modesty”. The punishment ranges from a jail term of up to five years or fine, or both. Section 354A entails “physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures”; or “demanding or requesting sexual favours”; or “showing pornography against a woman’s will”, or “making sexually coloured remarks”. In 2013, this section was amended to say that anyone who sexually harassed a woman by unwelcome physical contact, advances, a demand or request for sexual favours or showing her pornography could face up to three-year imprisonment, a fine, or both.

  • Arrest WFI chief by June 9, Khap Mahapanchayat gives ultimatum to Centre

    Leaders of different Khaps from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh who held a meeting at Kurukshetra in Haryana on Friday, June 2, in support of the top wrestlers’ protest, gave an ultimatum to government to arrest wrestling federation of India’s (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh by June 9 elsethey would launch a fresh agitation at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. “We have taken a decision that the government must address the grievances of wrestlers and he (Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh) should be arrested. Otherwise, we will go with the wrestlers to Jantar Mantar in Delhi on June 9 and hold panchayats across the nation,” farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, who led the meeting, said. “The cases against the wrestlers should be withdrawn and the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh must happen,” Tikait said.
    Khap leaders said that they would wait till June 9 for the government to arrest Singh and that they would also hold talks with the government in the context.
    Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait said that the Khaps had taken five days’ time from the wrestlers who felt disappointed because of the inaction of the government on their complaints. Tikait said that the Khap leaders had also sought time from the wrestlers as the government wanted to talk to them (Khaps).
    Stating that their agitation would continue peacefully, the Khap leaders would also hold meetings with people across the country to unite the people on the issue.

  • Sexual harassment allegations against Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

    Sexual harassment allegations against Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

    Protesting wrestlers threaten to move court; want WFI disbanded

    NEW DELHI (TIP): India’s top  wrestlers have intensified their agitation against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh after their talks with the Sports Ministry failed. They said the government has given them an assurance but no “satisfactory response” and they will lodge multiple FIRs against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh if the Wrestling Federation of India is not disbanded immediately. The wrestlers, who have accused the WFI president of sexual exploitation and intimidation, continued their dharna for the second day as more grapplers joined them in what they called was a fight to give “a new life to Indian wrestling”.

    They have also  been supported by seven khaps in Charkhi Dadri  who will march to Delhi on Friday, January 20, to express solidarity with the wrestlers.

    Late in the evening, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur rushed back to Delhi from Hamirpur to hold talks with the wrestlers. He assured them of “action if anyone is found guilty”. Earlier in the day, several wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Punia, said they would file an FIR and, if need be, approach the court to press their sexual harassment allegations against the WFI chief.

    “We never wanted to turn it into a legal matter. All we wanted was to meet them (PM Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah). I dare the president to sit across me and tell me that our accusations are untrue. If we are forced, we will file an FIR,” Vinesh said during the second day of their dharna at Jantar Mantar here today. “He ruined UP women’s wrestling with sexual abuse. Now he is targeting Maharashtra girls, and we got calls from Kerala girls as well. They want us to keep the fight going,” Vinesh added. “Five-six girls will file an FIR tomorrow. It will be a black day in the history of this country. If girls like us can face such harassment then no girl is safe in this country.”

    Bajrang said they wanted the WFI to be disbanded. “If he (Brij Bhushan) resigns, he will hand over the reins to his own people. Even the state associations are being run by his people, they have to go as well,” he said.

    Rio Olympics bronze medalist Sakshi Malik, who was part of the delegation that met Sports Ministry officials, including Secretary Sujata Chaturvedi, said: “We were not told what action they will take against him. We are not satisfied with the response.”

    “We want the federation to be disbanded. We need a new start,” she added.

    A fiery Vinesh said that none of the wrestlers at the protest site would fight under the WFI as long as it was run by Brij Bhushan or his aides. Anshu Malik, among the youngest at the protest, said that during a tournament in Bulgaria, Singh Brij Bhushan made young female wrestlers, including her, “uncomfortable”. Incidentally, veteran CPM leader Brinda Karat, who tried to join the protest, was politely asked to stay away. “Neeche chale jaaiye please madam…. We request you, madam, please don’t turn this into a political matter. It’s an athletes’ protest,” Bajrang requested her. She quietly complied. The wrestlers will continue the protest until their demands are met.

    (With inputs from PTI and TNS)