WFI (Wrestling Federation of India) has extended the deadline given to the monitoring committee to submit its report on the investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh President by two weeks. Following the claims made by the country’s top wrestlers, a monitoring committee headed by legendary boxer MC Mary Kom was constituted on January 23.
Senior wrestlers like Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik had claimed that Brij Bhushan had sexually harassed many female wrestlers and threatened players. The wrestlers did not reveal the names of any victims of the sexual assault allegations. The committee was asked to submit its report in four weeks. This committee is also looking after the day-to-day functioning of the sports organization.
The ministry has extended this deadline following a request by the members of the WFI committee and will now submit the report on March 9. A source in the ministry told PTI that following their request, the sports ministry has given the monitoring committee two more weeks to submit the report.
The ministry was forced to set up the panel when top Indian wrestlers including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Ravi Dahiya and Sakshi Malik staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi demanding removal of Brij Bhushan from the top post and dissolution of the WFI. But they sat on strike.
BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was asked to step down till the completion of the investigation. But the president of the wrestling federation said he would not resign from his post amid the allegations. However, he also said that the wrestling federation will not take any legal action against the protesting players. The BJP leader said that he would also respect the decision of the party.
