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Wrestler-Minister A Thakur’s meeting ended in deadlock till 2 am: 10 facts

January 20, 2023
Bharat Times

New Delhi:
Facing #MeToo allegations and protests from wrestlers, Wrestling Federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Friday said the allegations against him are part of a “political conspiracy”.

Here are the top points in this big story:

  1. “It is a political conspiracy against me. Attempts are being made to defame women wrestlers and the sport,” she said.

  2. Late night, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur held a four-hour meeting with the protesting wrestlers, but nothing worked out. The meeting which started at 10 pm ended at 2 pm.

  3. The minister urged the protesters to wait as the ministry sought a response from the federation.

  4. Eminent Indian wrestlers including Olympic medalists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik besides Vinesh Phogat and others have been staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar for the past two days against the WFI president, accusing him of sexual harassment and intimidation and demanding Are doing that the federation should be dissolved.

  5. Wrestlers are not ready for anything less than the resignation of the WFI president.

  6. Earlier on Wednesday, the Center had clarified that if the WFI did not respond in the next three days, the sports ministry would “initiate action against the federation under the provisions of the National Sports Development Code, 2011”.

  7. “Unfortunately we have not received any satisfactory response. Yesterday, we had 1-2 victims among us, but now we have 5-6 wrestlers who were subjected to (sexual harassment). We cannot name them now, after all they are daughters. And someone’s sisters. But if we are forced to reveal their identity, it will be a black day,” Vinesh, a two-time world championship medallist, said while talking to the media on Thursday afternoon.

  8. Olympian wrestler Bajrang Punia said, “There are five to six women wrestlers here with us who have faced these atrocities and we have evidence to prove it.”

  9. Former wrestler and Haryana BJP leader Babita Phogat reached the protest site yesterday to meet the wrestlers as a mediator on behalf of the government and assured them of meeting their demands. “I have assured them that the government is with them. I will try to get their issues resolved today,” Babita said.

  10. Wrestler Bajrang Punia said, “Babita Phogat has come for mediation on behalf of the government. We will talk to her and then give more information.”