Wrestlers protesting sexual harassment charges against the federation’s chief and many trainers met at the Sports Ministry in Delhi on Thursday, following a mediation effort organized by veteran wrestler and Olympian Babita Phogat.
The following are the ten most recent updates in this story:
- “First and foremost, I’m a wrestler. The BJP government is on the side of the wrestlers. I will make certain that action is performed today. I’m a wrestler and a member of the government, therefore it’s my obligation to mediate. In my job, I have also heard about cases of abuse. Without fire, there is no smoke. These are significant voices “On the second day of the demonstration in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, Babita Phogat, a member of the BJP and a member of the Haryana government, remarked.
- The country’s sports ministry urged the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Wednesday to reply to the allegations within 72 hours after triple Commonwealth Games gold medalist Vinesh Phogat, one of India’s most accomplished women wrestlers and Babita Phogat’s cousin, made the allegations public.
- WFI President Brij Bhushan Charan Singh, a BJP MP, has denied the allegations. “All of the sexual harassment charges are untrue, and if they are shown to be true, I will commit suicide. I attempted to contact the wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, but was unable to do so “According to the news agency ANI, the 66-year-old said.
- Mr. Punia, a bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, also joined the protest and accused Mr. Singh of administering the federation in a tyrannical manner. “The federation’s responsibility is to support the players and look after their sports needs. If there is a problem, it must be addressed “He tweeted about it.
- Vinesh Phogat, 28, made the claims against Mr. Singh and his trainers during a public demonstration at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, which was supported by several other top wrestlers. “Coaches, as well as the WFI president, have sexually assaulted female wrestlers at national camps. I know at least ten to twenty girls from the national camp who have come to me and told me their stories “She was crying as she spoke.
- Ms. Phogat claimed she had never encountered such exploitation personally, but that many wrestlers were afraid to speak up because of their humble beginnings. “They are terrified because of their family history. They can’t fight them because they’re too strong. Wrestling is our only source of income, and they won’t allow us to do it. We have no choice except to perish. So why not do good before you die? “She went on to say.
- Sakshi Malik, a fellow wrestler and Olympic bronze medalist who was also present at the demonstration, supported the charges. “Athletes work hard to bring home medals for their country, but the federation has done nothing but disappoint us,” she wrote on Twitter.
- The Delhi Commission for Women, a municipal organization that handles women’s concerns, has filed a notice to the sports ministry and requested that the city police open a complaint. Swati Maliwal, the organization’s chief, also visited with the protesting wrestlers at the Jantar Mantar.
- The claims came months after the coach of the country’s national cycling team was fired after being accused of sexual harassment.
- The #MeToo campaign in India gained traction in 2018 after a Bollywood actress accused a prominent actor of sexual harassment. Soon after, women from diverse backgrounds came forward with additional complaints, including one against a former government minister, but activists say little has changed.
