In the midst of escalating tensions between wrestlers and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Saran Singh, the international governing body for wrestling, United World Wrestling (UWW), expressed its concerns over the allegations of abuse and harassment made against Singh. The wrestlers have threatened to immerse their medals in the Ganga as a form of protest, while the UWW warned of potentially suspending the federation if the allegations are not thoroughly investigated.
Singh, who refuted all claims, stated that he was innocent and even declared his willingness to face severe consequences if found guilty. He questioned the timing of the wrestlers’ allegations, considering that the alleged incidents occurred seven years ago. Singh mentioned that an oversight committee was formed, and the wrestlers’ complaints were heard before being handed over to the Delhi Police. Singh temporarily stepped aside to ensure a fair investigation and announced that he would not seek re-election.
Singh expressed bewilderment over the wrestlers’ changing demands, initially calling for his resignation and later pushing for a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case and his arrest. He also questioned why the activities of the entire federation were suspended when the allegations were against him as an individual, rather than the entire organization.
Singh suggested conducting the elections for the WFI and appointing an ad-hoc committee to organize the tournaments as a way to restore normalcy. He believed this would benefit wrestlers from various states, allowing them to participate and win medals, which could subsequently aid their employment prospects.
Singh claimed that wrestlers from other states supported him and alleged a wider conspiracy surrounding the allegations. He expressed confidence that nothing could be proven against him, citing his cooperation with the Delhi Police during questioning.
The UWW expressed disappointment over the lack of progress in the investigations and condemned the treatment and detention of the protesting wrestlers, who were arrested and temporarily detained by the police. The UWW called for a thorough and impartial investigation by the relevant authorities.