Wrestlers Protest: Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, said on Sunday that individuals who harass women should be hanged and offered his support to wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Women wrestlers have accused Brij Bhushan Singh, a BJP MP, of sexual harassment.
It isn’t a big matter for me-Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the head of the Indian Wrestling Federation, has been accused of major sexual harassment by female athletes. He said today that while leaving from his position, as asked by the wrestlers who are protesting, isn’t a big matter for him, he won’t do it “as a criminal.” ‘Their (wrestlers’) demands change all the time. When they first requested my resignation as the head of the federation, I said that doing so would indicate I was agreeing to the accusations. It’s not a big problem to resign, but I won’t do it in that capacity. I’m not a criminal,’ he emphasised, adding that he has always had to deal with challenges.
I have always respected the government-Brij Bhushan
Brij Bhushan Singh reaffirmed his innocence and said he would help with any investigation since he trusted the legal system and the investigative institutions. ‘For months now, I have been the target of accusations and harassment. My family and supporters are devastated, but I want an unbiased investigation. For four months, they induced individuals to make false claims against me and continued bringing in fresh witnesses. Since they are the ones who act prematurely, I have always respected the government. They are demanding I should be locked up,’ he added, adding that his election to the Lok Sabha was not made possible by “Vinesh Phogat’s largesse (one of the wrestlers organising the protest),” but rather by the people who backed him.
Brij Bhushan claimed he hasn’t yet received a copy of FIR
He further implied that “one family” and “one akhada” (wrestling arena) were behind the plot. He said that “one businessman” was complicit in the plot and that the Congress was attempting to tarnish his name. The head of the wrestling organisation, who is also a BJP MP, is facing the most difficult battle of his political and professional career, but he remained defiant today during a display of strength on his home ground. Singh claimed he hasn’t yet received a copy of the First Information Report (FIR) submitted by the Delhi police in response to charges of sexual harassment made against him by many female wrestlers. He was garlanded and surrounded by admirers in the Gonda district of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Singh emphasised that it was his responsibility to refute the accusations and that his party had no connection to the matter.
The wrestlers claimed that the authorities took a very long time to submit the FIR
‘I have not yet obtained a copy of the FIR. Once I have a copy of the FIR, I will respond,’ he said. He had applauded the Delhi police’s decision to open a case after being accused of sexual harassment by the nation’s best wrestlers on Friday. BJP legislators descended onto Brij Bhushan Singh’s home in Gonda. They described the accusations against him as “baseless” and said that the Congress and “certain businesspeople” were involved in a plot against the government. The wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat, claimed that despite their appeals, the authorities took a very long time to submit the FIR.
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Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met with protesting wrestlers
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the head of the Congress, met with protesting wrestlers today at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar to show support for their demand. The Delhi Police were criticised by the Congress general secretary for failing to provide a copy of the FIR lodged against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Leading members of the Aam Aadmi Party have also visited the protest location and have shown support for the wrestlers. Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the AAP and Delhi’s chief minister, will pay them a visit tonight. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is the subject of two cases that the Delhi Police have brought. Under the strict Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which forbids bail, one of the FIRs relates to an allegation of sexual harassment made by a juvenile. Earlier this year, the wrestlers made the decision to exclude political parties from their demonstrations; they even asked CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat to leave the podium while she was addressing the crowd. However, they have since altered their minds and are now welcome all parties who support them.
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