New Delhi: The federal government should stay its phrase on making sure a shift of energy within the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) with out a shut affiliate of president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh contesting within the election else there will probably be no clean-up and ladies wrestlers gained’t really feel secure, Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia mentioned on Wednesday.
Singh, the BJP MP from Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh, has been discovered answerable for prosecution for sexual harassment, molestation and stalking of ladies wrestlers within the Delhi Police chargesheet. Bajrang and probably the most nation’s different most sensible wrestlers had suspended their protest in opposition to Singh after a gathering with sports activities minister Anurag Thakur in June. One of the crucial stipulations agreed upon, consistent with Bajrang, was once that ‘no circle of relatives member’ or ‘supporter’ of Singh would contest the elections.
“The ones with regards to Brij Bhushan are within the fray for the elections. Sanjay Kumar Singh is contesting for the submit of WFI president. If Sanjay Kumar wins, it is the same as Brij Bhushan profitable the elections. The federal government had promised us that the ones with regards to Brij Bhushan and his members of the family gained’t contest. However that doesn’t appear to be the case now.
The federal government should fulfil its promise, another way girls wrestlers gained’t be secure. How lengthy will girls wrestlers reside in worry?” Bajrang instructed The Indian Specific.
Sanjay Kumar is the vice-president of Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Affiliation.
Brij Bhushan needs to carry directly to energy by means of his relied on aides so as to take a look at and silence the ones girls wrestlers who need to talk out in opposition to him however are scared to take action.
“The instant it’s transparent that the WFI has no one attached to Brij Bhushan, different sufferers of sexual harassment may also have the braveness to speak about what they went via. Brij Bushan is so tough and smartly attached. For this reason we would like trade within the WFI,” Bajrang mentioned.
Worthy challenger
The competition for the president’s submit is a two-way race, the opposite candidate being 2010 Commonwealth Video games gold medallist Anita Sheoran. A witness and a corroborator within the case in opposition to Brij Bhushan, Anita has the backing of Bajrang and two different distinguished wrestlers who had been a part of the protest — Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat.
“Anita is a former wrestler. She understands the game, is aware of the sacrifices wrestlers need to make to win a medal for the rustic and would be the voice of wrestlers. Most significantly, girls wrestlers will really feel secure. It’s not that i am pronouncing make me the president of the WFI. However the govt had promised us that our opinion would topic when it got here to who occupies the important thing posts within the WFI. It was once some of the stipulations and a reason why we referred to as off our protest. But it surely does now not seem like the promise will probably be fulfilled,” Bajrang mentioned.
Sports activities minister Anurag Thakur, talking after a six-hour assembly with the protesting wrestlers in June, had mentioned, “After the elections, WFI must serve as as a just right federation with just right office-bearers. Gamers’ reviews must be taken on this regard. Former president Brij Bhushan Singh, who has finished 3 phrases, and the ones with regards to him, must now not be elected, the wrestlers have demanded,” Thakur had mentioned.
After the federal government assuring the wrestlers that they’d have a say in deciding who occupies key posts within the new WFI govt committee, it was once believed {that a} unanimous candidate could be nominated in every class, thus casting off the wish to have polls. Alternatively, applicants selected via Brij Bhushan for the 15 posts have the backing of no less than 20 of the 25 state gadgets.
Psychological torture
Bajrang mentioned he minimize brief his coaching stint in Kyrgyzstan and returned to India on listening to about Brij Bhushan now not backing down from fielding applicants of his selection for the elections.
“It’s been psychological torture for me and Vinesh. After calling off the protest, we would have liked to provide one hundred pc to coaching. However how is that imaginable once we know that Brij Bhushan’s other folks may just run the federation once more. Now we have been chatting with the federal government, the sports activities ministry and the Game Authority of India to make sure that the ones with regards to Brij Bhushan don’t seem to be a part of the election procedure. After returning to India, a large number of my time has long past in conferences and make contact with calls. It is rather tricky to concentrate on wrestling and coaching when the way forward for the game in India is at stake,” Bajrang added.