ONE OF the important thing witnesses within the sexual harassment case towards Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, wrestler Anita Sheoran, is within the fray to succeed the BJP MP because the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president.
Anita, the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Video games gold medallist, filed her candidature on Monday, the final day for submitting nominations for the August 12 elections.
In case she wins, she would be the first girl to move an historical India sport whose roots could be traced to all-male akhadas. Whereas the flip of century noticed Indian girls make a mark internationally, the decision-makers have all the time been males.
Even for this watershed WFI elections, Anita is the lone girl within the 50-member voters’ and candidates record. The 38-year-old is prone to be up towards two from Brij Bhushan’s panel: Olympian Jai Prakash, the president of the Delhi wrestling affiliation, and Sanjay Singh Bhola of Uttar Pradesh.
Each these candidates have had a protracted affiliation with Brij Bhushan, who’s accused of sexual harassment by six girls wrestlers. The case towards the previous WFI chief is being heard by a Delhi courtroom, which granted him bail a few week in the past.
On Monday, the Brij Bhushan camp had a gathering within the capital and claimed that they’ve the assist of at the very least 20 out of the 25 state models.
“We’re assured of doing effectively. Within the subsequent few days, we are going to finalise who would be the ultimate candidate for the publish however regardless, our alternative shall be unanimous,” stated Jai Prakash.
Anita, in the meantime, leads the opposition panel and is known to have the backing of the protesting wrestlers, who the federal government had stated would have a significant say in who occupies the highest posts within the WFI. She was additionally one of many corroborators of the allegations of sexual harassment towards Brij Bhushan.
In June, the CWG gold medalist had informed The Indian Categorical that one of many complainants had known as her from a match overseas to “share” the incident the place Brij Bhushan had allegedly known as her to his room and “forcibly” hugged her. On Monday, Anita didn’t want to remark.
Railway Sports activities Promotion Board (RSPB) secretary Prem Chand Lochab, who’s with Anita’s panel, is a candidate for the publish of secretary normal whereas former wrestler from J&Ok, Dushyant Sharma, has filed nomination for the posts of vp and treasurer. Devender Kadian, a hotelier from Haryana, is the panel’s alternative for the publish of senior vp.
From Brij Bhushan’s facet, Chandigarh’s Darshan Lal has been nominated for the publish of secretary normal, Uttarakhand’s Satyapal Singh Deshwal for treasurer’s place and West Bengal’s Asit Kumar Saha for senior vp.
In June, the federal government assured protesting wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia that none from Brij Bhushan’s household shall be permitted to carry any publish within the new physique.
Brij Bhushan and his son Karan consequently weren’t named within the electoral roll and although the BJP MP’s son-in-law Vishal Singh shall be representing Bihar, he’s not vying for any place.