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Wrestlers vs WFI Live: Mary Kom-led Oversight Committee to look after day-to-day working of WFI
THE TIMES OF INDIA | Apr 27, 2023, 10:58:43 IST
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Wrestlers vs WFI Live: Mary Kom-led Oversight Committee to look after day-to-day working of WFI

A five-member Oversight Committee that has MC Mary Kom and Yogeshwar Dutt will be probing the sexual harassment charges against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, announced the Sports Ministry on Monday.
12:14 (IST) Jan 21
Supporters welcome Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh with garlands in wrestling event despite molestation charges
04:05
11:54 (IST) Jan 21
TOI has learnt that the emergency council wasn't happy with how the wrestlers went public with their grievances without first talking about them with the sports ministry, the IOA and the Sports Authority of India or SAI. The timing of the wrestlers protest is also being discussed, considering the WFI elections are scheduled in March
11:54 (IST) Jan 21
The IOA held an emergency council meeting on Friday, with Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra also joining it as an athletes' commission member of the International Olympic Committee or the IOC.
11:16 (IST) Jan 21
So what happens next?
There is no time limit that has been set for the IOA committee to submit its report and findings. The IOA cannot dissolve WFI, as demanded by the wrestlers. The members of the committee formed by the IOA will be holding talks with the wrestlers who have been protesting and investigate all the charges levelled against Singh and the WFI. If the wrestlers are fine with sharing the names and identities of the victims of alleged sexual harassment, the committee members will be meeting them as well, with everything being done in strict confidentiality.
11:15 (IST) Jan 21
On Friday multiple young wrestlers also came forward to say that they had not heard or seen anything that would lead them to believe that wrestlers were being subjected to sexual harassment of any kind by anyone in the WFI, including the president.
10:58 (IST) Jan 21
On Friday, TimesofIndia.com spoke to a few wrestlers who said they were quite shocked to learn that Sakshi Malik, an Olympic medal winner and one of the protesting wrestlers had been unaware about the alleged sexual harassment, despite being a member of WFI's anti-sexual harassment committee.

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10:57 (IST) Jan 21
Singh's son Prateek Bhushan, who is an MLA from Gonda, later said that Singh would issue a statement about the allegations on Sunday, January 22. Singh has said that the wrestlers are protesting as part of a political conspiracy against him and the BJP.
10:57 (IST) Jan 21
Brij Bhushan Singh meanwhile did not hold his press conference, which was scheduled for Friday. It was postponed thrice during the day and finally called off. In a chat with media personnel however he ruled out his resignation. His words were - that his revelations would "trigger a tsunami"
10:37 (IST) Jan 21
Meanwhile the Indian Olympic Association, which is currently headed by one of India's most well known athletes - PT Usha, formed a 7 member committee to look into the allegations of sexual harassment against Singh. This committee will be headed by ace Indian boxer MC Mary Kom. On Friday the wrestlers also wrote a letter to Usha where they reiterated their demand for Singh's sacking and a thorough probe into the very serious allegations of sexual harassment against female wrestlers
10:36 (IST) Jan 21

We have full faith in the committee as announced by the minister. We are happy that a probe has been ordered. We are calling off our protest for now.

Bajrang Punia

10:17 (IST) Jan 21
TOI has learnt that the oversight committee is likely to have three eminent sportspersons, with two of them being female athletes.
10:02 (IST) Jan 21
So what happens in this one month period?
During this time, an oversight committee will look into all the allegations that the wrestlers have levelled at Brij Bhushan and the WFI - those of sexual harassment and also financial misconduct. The committee will also, during this time, run the day to day affairs of the federation.
10:02 (IST) Jan 21
For now Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, an elected president of the WFI has been asked to step aside for a period of 4 weeks.
09:56 (IST) Jan 21
Wrestlers protest so far
The protesting wrestlers called off their 3 day stir against the Wrestling Federation of India and its president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh late night on Friday after another marathon rounds of talks with the sports minister Anurag Thakur.
09:29 (IST) Jan 21
Who is Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh - The controversial head of WFI and 6-term MP?
02:53
08:33 (IST) Jan 21

WFI head steps aside for now, wrestlers call off stir

The aggrieved grapplers called off their protest late on Friday night after getting assurances from the government that their grievances would be addressed, the first step of which was the stepping aside of under-fire Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Ravi Dahiya, decided to end their protest after a breakthrough was achieved during a second round of talks with union sports minister Anurag Thakur.
READ FULL STORY
08:31 (IST) Jan 21

Till the investigation is over, he (Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh) will step aside and co-operate with the investigation and the oversight committee will run the day-to-day affairs of WFI.

Union sports minister Anurag Thakur

00:59 (IST) Jan 21
It has been decided that an oversight committee will be formed & names for which will be announced tomorrow. The committee will complete its investigation in 4 weeks & will thoroughly probe all the allegations that have been leveled against WFI & its chief: Union sports minister
00:58 (IST) Jan 21

Union sports minister listened to our demands and has assured us that a proper investigation will be done. I thank him and we are hopeful that a fair probe will be done, hence we are calling off the protest

Wrestler Bajrang Punia

00:54 (IST) Jan 21
Oversight committee to give report on issue involving Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in four weeks: Sports minister Anurag Thakur
00:53 (IST) Jan 21
Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to step aside till oversight committee investigates issue: PTI
00:48 (IST) Jan 21

During the meeting, the players kept their demands & we held a discussion about it. We had issued a notice to Wrestling Federation of India when the allegations were levelled & asked them to respond within 72 hours.

Union sports minister Anurag Thakur

00:47 (IST) Jan 21
Wrestlers end protest after getting assurances that their grievances would be addressed: PTI
22:34 (IST) Jan 20

A detailed discussion was held on the letter received from the athletes and all the members including special invitees presented their views and suggestions

IOA said in a statement

22:20 (IST) Jan 20
Earlier in the day, the wrestlers wrote a detailed letter to PT Usha reiterating their demand for Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's sacking and thorough probe into the allegations of sexual misconduct with national campers by him. The development came a day after Usha extended her support to wrestlers protesting against the continuation of Singh as the federation's president.
Earlier in the day, the wrestlers wrote a detailed letter to PT Usha reiterating their demand for Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's sacking and thorough probe into the allegations of sexual misconduct with national campers by him. The development came a day after Usha extended her support to wrestlers protesting against the continuation of Singh as the federation's president.
22:04 (IST) Jan 20
The EC members expressed their unhappiness over the way the wrestlers went public with their grievances instead of first discussing it with the sports ministry, IOA and the Sports Authority of India (SAI). Also, the members weren't pleased with the timing of the protest organised just two months before the WFI elections are scheduled in March.
21:53 (IST) Jan 20
'We ensure that the truth will come out'
I just came to know from the media that I am a part of this committee (IOA's seven-member committee). Let us start the work and then we will say what is the exact picture. We ensure that the truth will come out in front of everyone: Archer Dola Banerjee to ANI
21:44 (IST) Jan 20
No time-frame has been set for the committee to submit its report to IOA president PT Usha and the executive council (EC). The members will also try and convince the wrestlers to call off their protest till the time the inquiry into the matter is not completed.
21:32 (IST) Jan 20

IOA forms 7-member panel, headed by Mary Kom, to probe sexual harassment charges against WFI president

IOA forms 7-member panel, headed by Mary Kom, to probe sexual harassment charges against WFI president

The members have been tasked to hold dialogues with the agitating wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Punia, among others, and look into the charges of sexual harrasment and intimidation against Singh. The members would also like to meet the victims of harassment if the protesting wrestlers wish to share their names with the committee in strict confidentiality.

READ FULL STORY
21:19 (IST) Jan 20

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to issue statement after AGM meeting on January 22

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to issue statement after AGM meeting on January 22

Prateek Bhushan, the son of the WFI president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, said his father will issue his statement after attending the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on January 22.

READ FULL STORY
21:12 (IST) Jan 20
UPDATE: We will sit and listen to everyone and do an unbiased investigation after looking at the charges and try to give a fair justice: Sahdev Yadav, Indian Weightlifting Federation president and member of the 7-member committee former by IOA, to ANI
20:19 (IST) Jan 20
BREAKING: IOA has formed a seven-member committee to probe the allegations of sexual harassment against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Members are Mary Kom, Dola Banerjee, Alaknanda Ashok, Yogeshwar Dutt, Sahdev Yadav among others
19:54 (IST) Jan 20

Disclosing names of victims would put them in danger, says Vinesh Phogat

Disclosing names of victims would put them in danger, says Vinesh Phogat

Vinesh Phogat stated that disclosing the names of victims would put them in danger and said that it was one of the reasons for having not yet filed an FIR.

READ FULL STORY
19:49 (IST) Jan 20
Wrestlers’ protest: WWE wrestler Kavita Dalal says she shifted to professional wrestling due to harassment
02:02
19:24 (IST) Jan 20
UPDATE: As per sources, government made it clear that they don't have any authority to sack WFI chief Brij Bhushan Saran Singh as he is elected president of the body
19:09 (IST) Jan 20
UPDATE: We're not formally authorized to speak anything on this issue. He (Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh) will address the media on Jan 22nd on Annual General Meet of WFI. We've given our official statement to Sports Ministry: Pratik Bhushan Singh, son of WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh
19:01 (IST) Jan 20
Breaking: WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's press conference stands cancelled
18:55 (IST) Jan 20
Visuals from Thakur's residence
18:53 (IST) Jan 20
UPDATE: Wrestlers reach sports minister Anurag Thakur's residence for the second round of meeting
18:21 (IST) Jan 20
Amit Panghal extends his support
18:19 (IST) Jan 20
Vijender Singh vows to fight against the system
18:08 (IST) Jan 20
UPDATE: Wrestlers leave Jantar Mantar for the second round of meeting with sports minister Anurag Thakur. SAI DG Sandeep Pradhan will also be part of the meeting
17:33 (IST) Jan 20
'Don't politicise our protest', appeals Sakshi Malik
17:26 (IST) Jan 20
Wrestlers to meet sports minister again
16:49 (IST) Jan 20
UPDATE: Urgent Executive Council Meeting of the IOA to be held at 5.45 pm today to discuss and decide on the letter received from wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Punia.
16:32 (IST) Jan 20
IOA likely to form a committee
16:24 (IST) Jan 20
Some wrestlers come out in support of WFI chief
16:20 (IST) Jan 20
UPDATE: As per reports, the government can’t sack WFI chief Brij Bhushan Saran Singh as he is elected president of the body. The government is also awaiting protesting wrestlers' response after the proposals were given to them by sports minister Anurag Thakur in the meeting held late last night.
15:51 (IST) Jan 20

I want justice to be served to those wrestlers, there must be a thorough probe into the allegations raised by wrestlers and there must be a CBI probe against those who're involved in this

Boxer Vijender Singh told ANI

15:29 (IST) Jan 20

The protest by wrestlers against me is the dharna of Shaheen Bagh. The protesting players have become a toy in the hands of Congress and Deepinder Hooda. This type of conspiracy was done against me by the Congress almost three decades ago. Once again the conspiracy has been repeated. I had earlier said that there was a conspiracy, and big powers are behind it. Now those forces are coming out in the open.. The picture becomes more clear with the tweets and statements by Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Deepinder Hooda. This attack is not only on me, but on the Bharatiya Janata Party through me.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

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Wrestlers vs WFI Live: Mary Kom-led Oversight Committee to look after day-to-day working of WFI
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