Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and Bharatiya Janata Party MP, has declared his readiness to undergo a polygraph test. However, Singh has set a condition that wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, who have been protesting against him, should also undergo the same test. Singh made this statement in response to the ongoing allegations of sexual exploitation made against him.
Taking to Facebook, Singh wrote, “I am ready to get my narco test, polygraphy test, or lie detector done, but my condition is that along with me, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia should also undergo these tests. If both the wrestlers are ready to get their tests done, then call the press and announce it, and I promise them that I am also ready for this.”
Meanwhile, in a significant development, a khap ‘mahapanchayat’ (an assembly of community leaders) has decided that women supporting the protest against Singh will hold a panchayat (meeting) in front of the new Parliament building on May 28, the day of its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The khap panchayat leaders convened in Rohtak to make a crucial decision, eventually settling on the plan to move their protest to the Parliament. Wrestlers Sakshi Malik and her husband Satyawart Kadiyan attended the mahapanchayat, while Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat remained at the protest site in Jantar Mantar.
Bajrang Punia expressed his satisfaction with the decision, stating, “We welcome this decision by the Mahapanchayat.” He further mentioned that the participation of male supporters in the panchayat would be determined later.
This decision indicates that the wrestlers are determined to continue their fight against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, whom they have accused of sexually exploiting several female grapplers.
In the midst of these developments, the ad-hoc panel of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), responsible for managing the affairs of the Wrestling Federation of India, is expected to organize the Asian Games trials around June 20.
In conclusion, the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, has challenged wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia to undergo a polygraph test alongside him. The ongoing allegations of sexual exploitation have sparked a confrontation between Singh and the protesting wrestlers, leading to a decision by women supporters to hold a panchayat in front of the new Parliament building. The wrestlers are resolute in their fight against Singh, while the IOA’s ad-hoc panel prepares for the upcoming Asian Games trials.