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In a big turn of events in the ‘wrestlers vs WFI’ row, the Wrestling Federation of India's sidelined chief has said that he is ready to offer his resignation from the top post if wrestlers demand it. He further added that he is satisfied with the Supreme Court's decision asking Delhi Police to file an FIR against him and is ready to cooperate in the probe.
Star wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik are protesting against the WFI chief, three months after the wrestlers alleged the federation chief of sexual harassment and WFI of mishandling funds and mismanagement.
In an exclusive interview with India Today, the disgraced WFI chief said, “I am content with the decision of the honourable court. The wrestlers have been raising their demands for so many days and they were protesting for the same. They went to the court and the court also took cognizance. The Supreme Court has ordered that an FIR should be registered and the matter be investigated. I am totally content with the decision. I will cooperate in the investigation wherever necessary.”
He further said, “I am not only content with the decision but also I agree with it because I am a citizen of this country and the Supreme Court is the apex court in this country. We cannot disagree with or raise questions on the court. We welcome the decision of the Supreme Court.”
Brij Bhushan also said that wrestlers have been changing their demands right from the beginning.
“Their demand changes every now and then. You should consider the agitation right from the beginning. At that time they demanded that the WFI president should resign. After that, they brought up the issue of sexual harassment. After that, they demanded that the government should conduct an inquiry. The government formed two committees. the inquiry was completed. They did not wait for the report of the probe by the committees and started a sit-in protest on some other issue. Then they reached the Supreme Court. If they will be satisfied just with my resignation, I will send it to you, and show the resignation to them. Even if I resign, they will say that he is not favouring anybody by resigning, as anyways his term was already over. You tell them to start their practice and stop this protest, I send my resignation to you. If you are asking me to resign, I can resign, but not as a criminal,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police informed the Supreme Court on Friday (April 28), that they will finally register an FIR against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh as requested by the wrestlers alleging sexual harassment.
Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta made the submission before a bench comprising the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud as well as Justice PS Narasimha. The court has adjourned the case for further hearing until next week in order to consider the threat perception to one of the survivors who is a minor.
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