Centre willing to have discussion with protesting wrestlers: Sports Minister Anurag Thakur
New Delhi, June 7: Union Minister Anurag Thakur has 'invited' India's ace wrestlers who have been protesting against the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Brij Bhushan Singh, for the discussion.
Taking to Twitter, the Union Minister stated that the government is willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues.
"The government is willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues. I have once again invited the wrestlers for the same," he tweeted on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia, who have been leading the protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh have returned to work for the Railways.
Olympians Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat have been protesting since the beginning of this year to demand that the WFI chief be removed and arrested over allegations of sexual harassment.
The Delhi Police have filed ten complaints and two FIRs against WFI President Brij Bhusan Singh.
The first FIR was filed in response to allegations made by a minor and was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, while the second FIR was filed in response to outraging modesty.
However, the WFI chairman has stated that he will "hang himself" if even one of the accusations levelled against him is proven true.
"I will hang myself even if one allegation against me turns out to be true. I stand by my statement..," said Brij Bhushan.
United World Wrestling (UWW), on the other hand, has condemned the detention of wrestlers during their march to the new parliament building and demanded action against the WFI chief.
"UWW firmly condemns the treatment and detention of the wrestlers. It expresses its disappointment over the lack of results of the investigations so far. UWW urges the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations."
"UWW will request further information about the next elective general assembly from the 10A and the Ad-hoc Committee of the WFI. The 45-day deadline that was initially set to hold this elective assembly shall be respected. Failing to do so may lead UWW to suspend the federation, thereby forcing the athletes to compete under a neutral flag. It is reminded that UWW already took a measure in this situation by reallocating the Asian Championship planned in New Delhi earlier this year," it further said.
Also Read: Amritsar Police on high alert following midnight bomb hoax near Golden Temple
- ANI
