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regular-article-logo Sunday, 05 May 2024

Wrestlers protesting on streets tarnishing India's image, amounts to indiscipline: PT Usha

Decorated wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik are the three central characters in the renewed protests against Wrestling Federation of India

PTI New Delhi Published 27.04.23, 05:37 PM
Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha

Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha File picture

Coming down heavily on the aggrieved wrestlers, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha on Thursday said the grapplers lacked discipline as they hit the streets to resume their protest against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Decorated wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik are the three central characters in the renewed protests against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment and intimidation by the grapplers.

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The IOA is yet to complete its probe into the allegations while the government-formed oversight panel's findings have not been made public as yet.

Frustrated with the three-month long wait, the peeved wrestlers returned to Jantar Mantar to resume their agitation on April 23, and also approached the Supreme Court, demanding arrest of the WFI boss.

It is clear that the IOA has not liked the wrestlers' move.

"Our feeling is that for sexual harassment complaints, IOA has a committee and athletes' commission. Instead of going to the street (again), they should have come to us, but they have not at all come to IOA," Usha told reporters after the sports body's executive committee meeting.

"Wrestlers staging protest on streets amounts to indiscipline. It is tarnishing the image of India," Usha told reporters.

"The players should not have protested on the streets. They should have at least waited for the report of the committee. What they have done is not good for the game and the country. It is a negative approach," Usha said.

Asked if the IOA would reach out to the wrestlers since they are adamant that they would not leave the protest site until their demands are met, Usha shot back by saying, "Thoda toh discipline hona chahiye (there should be some discipline). Instead of coming to us they have gone straight to the streets. It's not good for sport." Chaubey said, "IOA President Dr. PT Usha would like to say that this kind of agitation is not good for the country's image. India has a good reputation globally. This negative publicity is not good for the country." "We want to be with not just the wrestlers but with every athlete who has represented India, but under the rules and the law of the country.

"These are serious allegations, we can't take a decision in haste. If we can have a little bit of patience and see what is coming out from these committees, then we will be able to comment, but right now, we just discussed day-to-day administration of WFI." The IOA joint secretary also confirmed that several witnesses are yet to appear before the panel.

"The investigation is still going on. We are told that the committee has a list of witnesses and the committee will invite them and they will face the commission," Chaubey said.

Chaubey said the IOA, as instructed by the sports ministry, has formed a three-member ad-hoc panel to manage the affairs of the WFI.

"Bhupendra Singh Bajwa will represent IOA executive council in the ad-hoc panel while Suma Shirur is a woman athlete and also a SOM (Sportsperson of Merit). They will be in charge of WFI's day-to-day activities.

"We have also discussed (names) of judges and one of the retired high court judge will join these two members and it will become a three-member committee. The high court judge will guide the committee on legal things," he added.

When reminded that the IOA constitution does not permit an ad-hoc panel running a national sports federation (NSF), Chaubey said, "There are exceptions in the world. If IOA intervention can help a sport or sportsperson, that will be in interest of India as a nation." The Supreme Court will hear the matter on Friday. The Delhi Police had told the apex court that the matter requires a preliminary enquiry before they could proceed with the filing of an FIR against Brij Bhushan.

The IOA also instituted a three-member adhoc panel, including former shooter Suma Shirur, Wushu Association of India chief Bhupendra Singh Bajwa and headed by a yet-to-be-named retired high court judge, to run the affairs of the WFI until a new body is elected.

The IOA and the government had managed to placate the wrestlers with assurances to probe their allegations against Sharan and the WFI after the protest first broke out in January.

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had formed the committee to look into the allegations against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and its chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The committee, which was told to give a report to the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry, had given it on April 5. But the ministry has not yet made public the findings of the six-member committee.

"The Narendra Modi government has done excellent work for sportspersons in the country. The government spends a lot to help sportspersons. Some 3,000 players get ₹ 5 lakh on their boarding, lodging and training. They also get ₹ 1.20 lakh for personal expenses," Thakur told reporters today.

The protesting wrestlers had also asked PM Modi for a meeting with him to discuss the sex harassment allegations against the BJP MP who heads the WFI.

"PM Modi sir talks about 'Beti Bachao' and 'Beti Padhao' and listens to everyone's 'mann ki baat'. Can't he listen to our 'mann ki baat'? He invites us to his home when we win medals and gives us a lot of respect and calls us his daughters. Today, we appeal to him that he listens to our 'mann ki baat'," Rio Games bronze medallist Sakshi Malik told reporters.

The WFI chief in a video message alluding to the allegations against him indicated he will fight the wrestlers to prove them wrong.

"Friends, the day I reflect on my life, what I gained or lost, the day I feel I don't have the strength to fight, the day I feel helpless, I won't like to live a life like that. Instead of living such a life, I would wish that death embraces me," Singh said.

The athletes resumed their protest against the WFI chief on Sunday, three months after they ended a similar protest.

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