Wrestlers Protest: ‘Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur Tried To Suppress the Matter’, Alleges Vinesh Phogat

New Delhi, May 3: India's ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who has been protesting at the Jantar Mantar here with other top grapplers against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, has alleged that Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur tried to suppress the matter by forming an oversight panel instead of taking concrete action.

During their second phase of their protest, wrestlers are demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan, who is also a BJP MP. "We ended our protest after talking to Union Sports Minister (Anurag Thakur), and all the athletes had told him about the sexual harassment. By forming a committee, he tried to suppress the matter there; no action was taken that time," Vinesh told reporters. Wrestlers Protest: Vinesh Phogat and Seven Other Grapplers Move Supreme Court For Registration of FIR Against WFI President.

The ace wrestler also said that it is tough to stand against a powerful person who is misusing his power and position for a very long time. "It is very difficult to stand against a person who is misusing his power and position for so long," she said. The Olympian further revealed that the wrestlers had met an official before they started their protest in Jantar Mantar, for the first time. But, no action was taken. Wrestlers Protest: Babita Phogat Joins Oversight Committee Probing Allegations Against WFI and Its Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

"Three-four months before we sat at Jantar Mantar, we had met an official, we had told him everything about how women athletes are sexually harassed and mentally tortured when no action was taken, then we sat on dharna," Vinesh said. Meanwhile, Brij Bhushan has refused to resign from the wrestling body, saying it would then mean he has accepted the allegations.

"If I resign that means I have accepted their allegations, my tenure is about to end. Till a new party is formed and the government has formed an IOA committee under that committee elections will be held and then my tenure will end," he told the media earlier.

The wrestlers' protest has become a huge political issue, with several opposition leaders showing solidarity with the athletes and demanding the resignation of the WFI chief.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 03, 2023 11:25 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).