Former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh met party president JP Nadda in Delhi on Sunday. The meeting came amid the row over the suspension of the newly elected WFI governing panel, headed by Sanjay Singh, by the Union Sports Ministry.
Sanjay Singh is reportedly a close aide of Brij Bhushan, who is accused of sexual harassment by several wrestlers.
Following the meeting with the BJP Chief, Brij Bhushan addressed the media at his residence and asserted he was not related to the new WFI chief.
Earlier today, the Sports Ministry suspended the newly elected WFI panel, following the body’s announcement to hold U-15 and U-20 nationals at Nandini Nagar in UP’s Gonda before the end of this year. Gonda is Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s home turf.
On the WFI’s decision to hold the tournament in Gonda, Brij Bhushan said, “There was very little time left to hold the tournament and no other federation had enough arrangements to organise it on time.”
“Sanjay Singh is not my relative…The announcement to hold U-15 and U-20 nationals in Nandini Nagar was to ensure sports events should resume,” he said.
The six-time MP also claimed that he has severed all ties with wrestling on December 21, when the new body was elected on the Supreme Court order.
He further “requested” the government to organize this tournament, “even if it is in Delhi so that the year of the children are not spoiled.”
“I have worked 12 years for the wrestlers. Time will tell if I have done justice…Now decisions and talks with the government will be done by the elected people of the federation,” he said.
When asked for his comment on the WFI governing body’s suspension, the BJP leader said, “Let the new body say whatever they want to, I have a lot of work, I have to prepare for the elections.”
On meeting with Nadda, he said it was regarding party matters and not related to the governing body of WFI. “Lok Sabha elections are coming and I will have a lot of work,” he said.
He also denied reports that he had tendered his resignation as an MP.
Brij Bhushan had resigned as the WFI chief after several wrestlers protested accusing him of sexual assault. In fresh elections held on December 21, his aide Sanjay Singh succeeded him in the post.
Following this, wrestler Sakshi Malik’s announcement of quitting wrestling and Bajrang Punia’s decision to return his Padma Shri.
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