Star India wrestlers have filed a written complaint with the Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha alleging sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. In the letter, signed by Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Punia, the wrestlers have also accused WFI of financial misappropriation.
“On behalf of all wrestlers in the country, we would like to bring to your notice some very serious complaints of sexual harassment against WFI President Shri Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. These complaints have been informed to us by several young wrestlers,” the letter reads.
Also Read: Top Indian Wrestlers vs WFI – A Timeline of Events
The letter mentions that Vinesh Phogat was ‘mentally harassed and tortured’ by WFI president which forced her to contemplate suicide.
Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshee Malikkh, Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Punia write to PT Usha, President of the Indian Olympic Association on alleged sexual harassment complaints against Brijbhushan Saran Singh, President of Wrestling Federation of India pic.twitter.com/fVZEkyabtY— ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2023
They have made four demands including appointment of a committee to enquire into the complaints of sexual harassments, resignation of WFI, dissolution of the wrestling federation and formation of a new committee to run the affairs of WFI in consultation with the wrestlers.
The wrestlers have also said that there’s no involvement of political party or industrialist and their protest is a fight to “ensure a safe and secure place and environment for our young wrestlers especially female wrestlers.”
The Indian wrestlers have been protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar since Wednesday. Vinesh Phogat accused Brij Bhushan of sexually exploiting female wrestlers for many years. She added several coaches at the national camp have also exploited women wrestlers and claimed there are few women at the camp who approach wrestlers at the behest of the WFI president.
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