Sports Ministry asks WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to resign within 24 hours

New Delhi, Jan 20: The Ministry of Sports has reportedly given an ultimatum to the Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to tender his resignation from the post within 24 hours. This comes after Sports Minister Anurag Thakur met the protesting wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat, Ravi Dahiya, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik at his residence.

 

 

 

Speaking about the development, Thakur said on Thursday that the allegations levelled by wrestlers against WFI and its chief are serious in nature and that he will meet the wrestlers once he returns to the national capital and listen to them.

 

"Government has worked for the welfare and upliftment of sports and players. India has won a lot of medals and delivered good performances at the global level. Work has been done to make federations better. Allegations levelled by wrestlers are serious in nature. Taking swift action, the Government of India sent a notice to WFI and sought a reply within 72 hours. Camp has been postponed. I will try to meet the wrestlers after I reach Delhi. We will talk and listen to them and take the required action," Thakur was quoted as saying to ANI.

 

 

Many wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat and Sakshee Mallikkh, have levelled charges of sexual harassment of women wrestlers by the president and coaches of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and of mismanagement in the functioning of the federation. The wrestlers, who have been sitting in at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, demanded the resignation of Brij Bushan and urged the government to dissolve the national wrestling body.

 

The Sports Ministry on Wednesday demanded an explanation from the WFI regarding the allegations leveled against it and its president.

 

Reportedly, Brij Bhushan Singh is likely to resign on January 22nd at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Wrestling Federation of India.