With the report of the Oversight Committee inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment in opposition to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and different officers but to be made public by the Union Sports activities Ministry, the federation has introduced competitions in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh and is gearing up for a attainable election in Might.
This improvement has come as a jolt to the protesting wrestlers, who slammed the ministry and questioned the ‘equity’ of the probe.
It’s learnt {that a} assembly of all 28 WFI models is more likely to be held at Nandini Nagar in Gonda on the sidelines of the U-17 nationwide championships and Senior Open Nationwide Rating Wrestling Event scheduled from April 16-18. The place is a stronghold of Singh, and in line with high WFI officers he could even chair the assembly. Singh has accomplished three phrases in workplace and is ineligible to contest as per the Nationwide Sports activities Code provisions. His tenure expires this month. WFI plans to carry elections in New Delhi within the second week of Might, in line with a high WFI official.
“The AGM on January 22 needed to be cancelled as per authorities path. We’ll maintain the assembly now as there are a number of vital issues, together with the election, that the home wants to debate,” mentioned a WFI official on situation of anonymity.
Requested whether or not Singh would chair the assembly, the official mentioned, “Why not? He was requested to step apart until the probe was accomplished and he did that. We’ll take authorized opinion on the problem. If he’s not out there, the senior vice-president will preside,” he added.
The six-member Oversight Committee headed by lady boxing nice MC Mary Kom, submitted its report within the first week of April, however the ministry has maintained silence over it. On Monday, there was no response from the sports activities ministry to queries concerning the standing of the report and when the findings could be launched.
The panel was fashioned by the ministry following unprecedented protests by the nation’s high wrestlers, together with Olympic and world medallists who accused Brij Bhushan and a few WFI officers of sexual harassment. The panel was initially given 4 weeks to finish the probe and likewise requested to run WFI’s day-to-day affairs. It was fashioned on January 23 and its time period was later prolonged by two weeks. WFI officers resumed their roles initially of April. It’s learnt that 15 ladies wrestlers deposed earlier than the committee.
“As per ministry’s directions, WFI had stopped all actions for six weeks. We’ve cooperated with the Oversight Committee and adopted all of the instructions of the ministry,” mentioned one other senior WFI functionary. “The federation has been allowed to renew its functioning, together with communication with the world governing physique, United World Wrestling (UWW).”
Tokyo Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia, who was among the many wrestlers who protested — Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Punia had been among the many others — expressed shock on the WFI officers resuming work.
“When the committee’s report has not come out, how can WFI begin regular functioning?” Punia requested. “There are additionally stories that one member of the committee has signed it with objections. So, we do not know what is going on right here. We don’t need wrestling to undergo. It’s a critical matter, in any other case we might not have come out and protested on the streets. We would like justice.”