Sports Minister Anurag Thakur meets athletes for seven hours
New Delhi:
BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will leave India’s wrestling body for four weeks, during which time a watchdog committee will review sexual harassment allegations against him, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur told reporters today.
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After a meeting that lasted seven hours and lasted well past midnight, Mr Thakur, along with some of India’s most famous wrestlers, in a press conference assured that the government would support the wrestlers. in every step of the war.
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“An oversight committee will be formed. It will take four weeks to come up with a report. Any allegations, whether sexual harassment or financial misconduct, we will dig in and investigate them. I will take action then,” Thakur said.
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After meeting Mr Thakur, the wrestlers stopped protesting the allegations of sexual harassment and misappropriation of money.
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“Until the investigation is complete, a committee will review the day-to-day work (of the Indian Wrestling Federation)… I thank the athletes who spoke to me,” Mr Thakur said. .
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Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia said the minister made sure he was with the wrestlers at every step. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also always supported our athletes,” Mr. Punia said.
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The Indian Olympic Association has also announced a seven-member committee to investigate the allegations against Mr. Singh. The board will recognize athletes Mary Kom, Dola Banerjee, Alaknanda Ashok, Yogeshwar Dutt and Sahdev Yadav as members.
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Mr Singh has denied the allegations and refused to resign. “If I say, There will be a tsunami…I’m not here for someone’s charity. I was elected by the people,” he told reporters in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda.
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Earlier, Mr Thakur phoned Mr Singh and warned him not to make any statements to the media.
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Ahead of the meeting on Friday night, the wrestlers sent a letter to PT Usha, the head of the Indian Olympic body, demanding action against Mr. Singh.
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“Vinesh Phogat was harassed and mentally tortured by the head of WFI after she missed the Olympic medal in Tokyo. She almost thought of suicide,” the wrestlers wrote in a letter to her. Usha, adding that “they fear for their lives”. Ms. Phogat has agreed to disclose the identities of sexual harassment survivors to the Indian Olympic Association committee.
