Flanked by office-bearers of the Wrestling Federation of India, its former president and sexual-harassment accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh took centrestage Saturday because the WFI introduced the resumption of the Professional Wrestling League (PWL).
The league, launched in 2015, was shut down in 2019 over a money crunch and the pandemic.
The previous six-time Member of Parliament is going through trial in a Delhi courtroom after a few of the nation’s prime girls wrestlers accused him of sexual harassment in 2023. The formal invite named him because the “visitor of honour” for the night.
When the sports activities ministry suspended the newly elected WFI physique after his shut affiliate Sanjay Singh was elected president in December 2023, Brij Bhushan, following a gathering with BJP president J P Nadda, had stated he had “taken sanyas from wrestling”. He was then a sitting BJP MP.
On Saturday, Brij Bhushan was welcomed on stage with a bouquet by the wrestling league CEO, Akhil Gupta, and he was on the dais with present WFI office-bearers.
Seated to his left was Sanjay Singh, the present WFI president.
Requested in regards to the viability of the re-launched PWL, Sanjay Singh stated: “Baba Vishwanath ki kripa se yeh saalo saal chalegi, baaki Netaji (Brij Bhushan) ka aashirvaad hai, (The league will proceed for years, with the blessings of Baba Vishwanath and Netaji).”
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Requested about his function within the PWL — comprising six groups with 9 wrestlers every, together with 4 girls — Brij Bhushan stated he was current on the invitation of the WFI. He stated he stays a “khel ka premi” (sports activities lover) and a “kushti ka premi” (wrestling fanatic).
“Many wrestlers, women and men, requested me to inform the WFI president to restart the league. I’ve no function within the league. I’m a former president (of the WFI) and I’m a sports activities lover and a wrestling fanatic. No person can take this away from me. The WFI invited me right here, saying it could be good if I used to be current. I’m hopeful that wrestlers across the nation, ladies and men, seniors and juniors and cadet wrestlers, will all be pleased (due to the resumption of PWL),” he stated.
Requested if he was working the present from behind the scenes, Brij Bhushan laughed and stated: “Parde ke piche bahut kuch hota hai (many issues occur behind the scenes)”.
Among the greatest names in Indian wrestling, together with Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, had protested at Jantar Mantar in 2023, demanding Brij Bhushan’s arrest after six girls wrestlers filed complaints of sexual harassment in opposition to him.
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Responding to a query Saturday, Brij Bhushan stated no person, together with the protesters, could be barred from taking part within the PWL. “There might be no discrimination in opposition to anybody. In the event that they wish to be a part of the league, I’ll inform the president to offer them an opportunity,” he stated, including, “We’ve got to maneuver ahead in a constructive approach and never a detrimental approach”.
Sanjay Singh, in the meantime, credited Brij Bhushan with beginning the wrestling league in India. “I’m pleased that the Professional Wrestling League that our revered Netaji began in 2015… he had a dream of taking wrestling to new heights… that dream is being fulfilled as soon as once more in the present day,” stated Sanjay Singh.
Brij Bhushan’s son, Karan Bhushan Singh, was the night’s second “visitor of honour”. Karan Bhushan, who’s the president of the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Affiliation, efficiently contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the household seat of Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh — he acquired the BJP ticket following the sexual harassment allegations in opposition to Brij Bhushan.
Whereas he was not on stage, Karan Bhushan was later seen following his father out of the corridor.
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In June 2023, a 1,500-page chargesheet was filed in opposition to Brij Bhushan for alleged sexual harassment, assault and stalking of six girls wrestlers; it had statements of a minimum of 22 witnesses from throughout 4 states, together with wrestlers, a referee, a coach and a physiotherapist.
In Might 2024, costs had been framed in opposition to him below IPC Sections 354 (assault or felony power to girl with intent to outrage her modesty) and 354A (sexual harassment).
The trial started in July 2024 and is but to be concluded. Earlier, Brij Bhushan was discharged in a POCSO case after the daddy of one of many complainants, a minor, stated he had made a false criticism.