Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Bhushan Saran Singh on Monday said that he is ready to face any consequences, but wrestling should not hampered in the country owing to the agitation by the top wrestlers.
Talking to the reporters, Singh said that all wrestling events have come to a standstill across the country in the last four months due to which young wrestlers were suffering.
“The wrestling activities in the country have come to a complete standstill in the last four months. I say hang me if needed, but don’t hamper wrestling, don’t play with the future of the children. Let the cadet national competition be held by whosoever organises it, be it in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu or Tripura, but don’t hamper the wrestling,” he said.
It may be noted that many renowned wrestlers of the country including Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat have accused Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment of female wrestlers and are protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi demanding action against the WFI president.
Singh said that WFI has no objection to whosoever organises the cadet competition. “I appeal to them (wrestlers) to organise cadet nationals, junior nationals and other tournaments. If you do not let the WFI do the same,” he said.
It may be mentioned that the Sports Ministry has also cancelled the WFI elections to be held on May 7 due to protest by the wrestlers and has asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to form a committee and conduct the elections within 45 days.
The IOA has constituted a committee comprising former shooter Suma Shirur, Wushu Federation of India president Bhupendra Singh Bajwa and a retired High Court judge.
The WFI president said, “A child who is 14 years and nine months old will be more than 15 years old in three months’ time. If he turns 15 then the chance to compete (at the nationals) will go in vain. They (the protesting wrestlers) should understand this seriously. Hang me but don’t play with the future of the children. Let there be national competitions and let the camps run,” he said.
He confirmed that he will not run for the presidency, but has also indicated that he may seek a new role within the federation. He has already served as WFI president for 12 years and is ineligible to reapply for the post under the Sports Code of Conduct.
