Wrestlers Meet Amit Shah; Seek Immediate Inquiry Against WFI Chief

NEW DELHI: The top wrestlers from India met with Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday at his official house in New Delhi.

Olympic wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia met with Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence to discuss their protest against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Olympic medalists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, as well as a number of coaches, reportedly attended the meeting, which lasted for more than two hours and finished after midnight.“We had a meeting with the Home Minister. I can’t comment further,” Bajrang told the media.

According to the report, Amit Shah reassured the wrestlers that the law still applies to everyone equally.

Following the wrestlers' trip to Haridwar to dip their medals in the Ganga River, there was a gathering. They were stopped by farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, who gave the federal authorities till June 9 to arrest Brij Bhushan.

The protesting wrestlers previously spoke with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, who promised an impartial investigation into their accusations against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh.

Wrestlers will soon organise their own Mahapanchayat, according to Bajrang Punia, who made the announcement while sharing the stage with former J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik and RLD Chief Jayant Chaudhary on Sunday.

“We will hold one Mahapanchayat and will give a call for that. We will decide the venue. We want to bring everyone together for that panchayat, we don’t want us to be divided,” Bajrang Punia said. He added that their battle was not for any particular caste, but for honour and respect. “If we remain divided, we cannot win.”

Brij Bhushan Singh was accused in two FIRs of groping female athletes, asking them improper personal questions, demanding sexual favours to support their careers, brushing his hands across a minor's breast, and stalking her.

Singh, though, has refuted all accusations, and earlier this week he released a statement in which he reiterated the same.

"If a single allegation against me is proven, I will hang myself. If you (wrestlers) have any evidence, present it to the Court, and I am ready to accept any punishment," WFI Chief said.

In the FIR that was filed regarding the incident, Vinod Tomar, the assistant secretary of the Indian Wrestling Federation, is also included as a accused. Leading members of the opposition are now backing the grapplers, showing how popular the cause has become.

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