WFI sexual harassment case: Wrestlers agree to suspend protest until June 15 after meeting Sports Minister Anurag Thakur

A meeting between Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and protesting wrestlers was held at his residence in New Delhi on Wednesday. After the meeting, Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik said the government has asked for time until 15 June to resolve the issue. As a mutual agreement, the wrestlers have agreed to suspend their protest by a week.

The wrestlers have been protesting for over a month against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. They’ve accused him of sexually harassing female grapplers.

“A very positive discussion was held with the (protesting) wrestlers. They have demanded that the investigation (on charges against WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh) be concluded and chargesheet be filed by June 15,” says Union Minister Anurag Thakur after meeting with… pic.twitter.com/MWkSt5NMWI

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 7, 2023

“We were told that police investigation will be complete by June 15. Till then, we have been asked to wait and suspend the protest,” said Malik after a nearly five-hour long meeting on Wednesday evening.

The wrestlers were also assured that the police will withdraw the FIRs filed against them. “The Delhi police will also withdraw the FIRs filed against the wrestlers lodged on May 28,” she added.

The wrestlers were booked for violation of law and order on 28 May when they tried to march towards the new Parliament building to hold ‘Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat’. The wrestlers, protesting at Jantar Mantar then, didn’t have the requisite permission.

Malik and Punia asserted that their agitation was not over and they have suspended their protest only till June 15 as requested by the government.

On the meeting Anurag Thakur said, “A very positive discussion was held with the wrestlers. They have demanded that the investigation be concluded and chargesheet be filed by June 15.”

He also said the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections will be held by June 30.

The meeting was attended by Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, her husband Satyawart Kadian and Jitender Kinha. Double world medallist Vinesh Phogat, a prominent face of the protest against WFI chief, skipped the meet.

Earlier in the day, Thakur informed through Twitter that the government had invited the wrestlers for a discussion.

The government is willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues.

I have once again invited the wrestlers for the same.

— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) June 6, 2023

“The government is willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues. I have once again invited the wrestlers for the same,” Thakur had tweeted.

Before the meeting, Sakshi Malik told news agency ANI that the government’s proposal will be discussed with “senior and supporters” before taking a final decision.

“We will discuss the proposal given by the government with our seniors and supporters. Only when everyone gives their consent that the proposal is fine, then will we agree. It won’t happen that we will agree to anything that the government says and end our protest,” Malik said in an interview with news agency ANI.

India’s top wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi and Bajrang have been protesting against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh since 23 April. The WFI chief has been accused of sexual harassment, intimidation, groping and for demanding sexual favours.

The wrestlers are demanding Brij Bhushan’s arrest.

This is the second meeting between the government and wrestlers after they met Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday.

On Tuesday, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said that they have not withdrawn their support to the wrestlers and they have postponed the June 9 demonstration against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh only on the request of grapplers.

It was reported that farmer leaders were unhappy with the wrestlers for keeping them in the dark about their meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, they have decided to withdraw their support.

“Our June 9 demonstration in Delhi remains postponed at the moment. We will wait for the outcome of meeting between government officials and protesting wrestlers. We (farmers’ union) are in support of the wrestlers and will continue with our support to them,” Tikait had said.

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