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regular-article-logo Wednesday, 24 April 2024

Union sports minister invites protesting wrestlers for talks, assures fair probe

Government willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues... I have once again invited the wrestlers for the same, says Anurag Thakur in tweet past midnight on Wednesday

Our Web Desk Published 07.06.23, 10:45 AM
The minister said that sports and sportspersons were a priority for the government.

The minister said that sports and sportspersons were a priority for the government. File picture

  • Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik arrive at Sports Minister Anurag Thakur's residence, reports NDTV
  • Rakesh Tikait arrives at Anurag Thakur's residence
  • Second round of govt-wrestlers talk in 5-days: Sources

Union Sports minister Anurag Thakur hjas invited protesting wrestlers for talks, the overture coming a day after he said that a fair investigation would be conducted into their allegations of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

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"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 tweeted on Wednesday at 12.47 am.

The protesting wrestlers are understood to have held a late night late-night meeting with home minister Amit Shah on Saturday, according to NDTV.

Thakur, who was in Gwalior on Tuesday for a convocation of the Laxmibai National Institute of Physical Education, had assured the gathering that a fair investigation would be conducted into the wrestlers' allegations, according to PTI.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has, however, denied all the allegations against him.

The minister said that sports and sportspersons were a priority for the government. "The government has already formed a committee (to probe the allegations against Singh). The police are investigating the matter by registering an FIR. A charge sheet will also be filed and fair investigation will be done," the Union minister said.

Khap meet at Phogats' village

On Wednesday, top wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat are scheduled to attend a khap mahapanchayat in Haryana called “in the light of the cruelty of the Modi government towards women wrestlers”.

The meeting will be held in Balali, the home village of Vinesh and the other Phogat sisters, made famous by the film Dangal.

Sources said the mahapanchayat, which will be led by farmer leaders, will chalk out the future course of the protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Brij Bhushan's aides questioned

Delhi Police has recorded statements of associates of WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and those working at his residence in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda as part of the investigation into sexual harassment allegations against him.

Officials said on Tuesday that said the girl whose statement was the basis of a case being registered against Singh under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act had recorded a fresh statement under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) section 164.

The officials said police are collecting evidence in connection with the case filed against the BJP MP, and will submit a report in court accordingly.

Driver quizzed too

"A team of Delhi Police visited Gonda and recorded statements of Singh's associates and those working at his house, including his driver. This is being done as part of further investigation to collect evidence and corroborate versions of the witnesses with that of Singh and the complainants in the case," an official said, but refused to divulge details on account of the sensitive nature of the case.

Over 125 people, including family members and associates from both sides, have been interrogated and their statements were recorded. Singh has been questioned twice, sources said.

Technical, digital and manual evidence have been collected. As soon as the investigation is concluded, a charge sheet will be filed in court, they added.

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