In a significant development, a delegation of protesting wrestlers, including Olympic medalists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his official residence in the capital city on Saturday. The meeting, which lasted over two hours and concluded after midnight, aimed to address the demands of the wrestlers who had threatened to throw their medals into the Ganga in protest. Their five-day deadline for action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP, was set to expire soon.
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been accused of sexual harassment by seven female wrestlers, including a minor. The Delhi Police registered two FIRs against Singh on April 28, which included instances of demanding sexual favors and numerous incidents of harassment and intimidation. Several witnesses, including an Olympian, a Commonwealth gold medallist, an international referee, and a state-level coach, have supported the allegations and provided their statements to the Delhi Police.
During the meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, the wrestlers emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the allegations and demanded a strong chargesheet to be filed promptly. The wrestlers sought an update on the status of the investigation against Singh. The Home Minister reportedly reiterated the importance of following due process while addressing their concerns.
Previously, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had urged the wrestlers to cooperate fully with the investigation and let the law take its course. However, a high-level meeting held on May 27 did not yield conclusive results. Subsequently, the wrestlers and their supporters proceeded with a planned march to the new Parliament, but were met with resistance from the Delhi Police, leading to their detention and the filing of an FIR against them.
The wrestlers’ decision to immerse their medals in the Ganga as a form of protest garnered international attention and condemnation. However, they reconsidered their plan after a phone call from a BJP leader and pressure from their families, with Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) president Naresh Tikait requesting a deferral of their decision by five days.
The latest meeting with the Home Minister indicates a renewed effort to seek justice and accountability in the allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. With the government under scrutiny for its handling of the matter, the wrestlers’ delegation is hopeful that their demands for a swift and fair investigation will be addressed. The entire sports community, both in India and abroad, is eagerly watching the developments and advocating for a just resolution to the allegations.