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Beijing Olympics bronze medallist and India's star boxer Vijender Singh joined the wrestlers on Friday in a protest against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and its chief Brij Bhushan Saran Singh. The ace Indian wrestlers have levelled series sexual harassment charges against WFI president and have called out for his resignation from the post.
Congress politician Vijender also reached Jantar Mantar to join the protest and told that he was there to show his support towards the sporting fraternity. But soon he was asked to get off the stage and sit with the rest of the crowd since the grapplers did not want any political tinge being given to the protest.
Vijdener was seen sitting not on the stage with the wrestlers but on the ground below. However, Vijender demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the sexual harassment allegations leveled by the grapplers against the WFI chairman.
"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," Vijender told media.
Vijender later in a Congress party press briefing with former India discuss player Krishna Poonia said that Prime Minister Modi should speak up on the issue and that action under appropriate sections of the Indian Penal Code should be initiated on the issue.
India's most decorated wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, Ravi Dahiya are leading the protest which is staged at Jantar Mantar which started on Wednesday (January 18). Meanwhile, the Sports Ministry has given Brij Bhushan an ultimatum till Saturday evening to respond to the allegations. Wrestlers have demanded the resignation of WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and the dissolution of the WFI. They want a committee to enquire into the complaints of sexual harassment. Also, they want the formation of a new committee that will run the federation in consultation with the wrestlers.
