The government has appointed an oversight committee to look after the daily affairs of the wrestling federation of India which will be headed by boxer Marry Kom. The formation and appointment of the oversight committee comes amid the ongoing row between WFI President Brijbhushan Sharan Singh and top wrestlers as they alleged the Singh of sexual misconduct inside WFI.

It was reported that the Government appointed oversight committee will be headed by Olympian boxer Marry Kom, and other people who will be in the committee includes Olympic Medalist Yogeshwar Dutt, Dhyanchand Awardee Trupti Murgunde, SAI member Radhica Sreeman and ex-CEO TOPS Rajesh Rajagopalan.

See tweet here:

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur, while talking to the press, had also said that the committee will investigate the sexual allegations and other charges after listening to all the stakeholders and submit a report. Thakur also told the media that all the day to day functions and decisions will be overseen by the instituted committee.

The move by the centre to institute an oversight committee comes in the wake of the allegations levelled by top wrestlers who have accused the WFI Chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh of sexual misconduct and harassment. The top wrestlers who have made the allegations against Sharan include Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Ravi Dahiya.

The wrestlers last week took to the streets to protest against the President of the Wrestling Foundation of India. They had demonstrated by doing a sit-in at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. However, the protest was called off subsequently after a couple of days. The sports ministry had also instructed the WFI to halt all the activities with immediate effect owing to the allegations made by the wrestlers.

Brijbhushan Sharan Singh Delhi High court move

WFI President Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, on Monday had also approached the Delhi High Court against the allegations levelled against him. The plea had cited defamation and arbitrary use of laws of sexual harassment.

The post Mary Kom-led committee to probe wrestlers’ sexual harassment allegations: Centre appeared first on APN News.

The meeting scheduled for Sunday between the wrestlers and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president has been cancelled. This decision has been taken due to the ban of the Sports Ministry. According to the information, this meeting will not be held for 4 weeks now.

On the other hand, on Saturday evening, the Sports Ministry suspended all the activities of WFI. The ministry said that the WFI will also have to cancel the ongoing ranking tournament in Gonda (UP). Federation’s assistant secretary Vinod Tomar has been suspended on charges of indiscipline. Vinod is accused of making property worth crores by taking bribe from the players.

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has formed a committee to investigate the allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan and till the investigation is completed, he has been asked not to participate in the activities of the Federation. It is believed that after the council meeting, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will come in front of the media and keep his point. After his press conference was canceled on Friday, son Prateek Bhushan had said that he would give his answer after the Federation meeting on Sunday, January 22.

Most people are with Brij Bhushan, says suspended WFI secretary

Before being suspended by the Sports Ministry, Tomar had said on Saturday evening that most of the people of the Federation are with Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and personally also he do not find the allegations of the players right. He said that he has been associated with Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for 12 years, and that he was not like that. The allegations of the players are baseless. It’s been 3-4 days and they haven’t produced any evidence yet, he said.

Personal agenda birthed the protest: WFI

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) responded to the Sports Ministry’s notice. It was said on behalf of the Federation – the protesting players are defaming the WFI for their personal interest. They have personal agenda behind the protest. The president or anyone in WFI can’t do anything arbitrarily. There is no scope for mismanagement here.

Strike ended after a 7-hour meeting

The three-day-long strike by wrestlers against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh ended at 1 am on Friday. This decision was taken after a 7-hour meeting between Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and the wrestlers. Anurag Thakur said that an inquiry committee will be formed. It will give its report in 4 weeks.

Anurag Thakur also said that Brij Bhushan Singh will not look after the work of the Federation until the investigation is completed. This committee will keep an eye on the functioning of WFI. Brij Bhushan has assured cooperation in the investigation. On the other hand, wrestler Bajrang Punia said that the Union Sports Minister listened to their demands and assured proper investigation.

Indian Olympic Association forms an inquiry committee

The face-off between Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and wrestlers over allegations of sexual harassment went on for a day. Both the parties were not ready to leave the ‘akhada’. The wrestlers wrote a letter to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). Wrestlers alleged- When Vinesh Phogat had missed the medal in Tokyo Olympics, then Wrestling Association President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh mentally disturbed her so much that Vinesh had made up her mind to commit suicide.

The post WFI-wrestlers’ meeting called off, postponed for 4 weeks due to Sports Ministry’s ban appeared first on APN News.