Wrestlers won’t protest till then; sports minister assures all cases filed against them on May 28 to be suspended
Wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Satyawart Kadian at the residence of Anurag Thakur, in Delhi. Pics/PTI
The protesting wrestlers on Wednesday agreed to suspend their protest for a week after the government asked them to wait till police completes its probe into sexual harassment allegations against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh by June 15.
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The wrestlers, after a nearly five-hour meeting with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, said the government has also assured them that the police will withdraw the FIRs filed against them on May 28 following their march to the new Parliament building.
The meeting was attended by Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Satyawart Kadiyan and Jitender Kinha. Double world medallist Vinesh Phogat, a prominent face of the protest, skipped the meet.
Anurag Thakur, sports minister
“We were told that police investigation will be complete by June 15. Till then, we have been asked to wait and suspend the protest. The Delhi police will also withdraw the FIRs filed against the wrestlers lodged on May 28,” Sakshi Malik told reporters after the meeting.
‘Protest on hold, not over’
Both Malik and Punia said their agitation was not yet over and that they have suspended their protest only until June 15 as requested by the government.
‘Accepted all demands’
Addressing a press conference later, Thakur said the government has accepted every demand of the wrestlers.
He assured that the elections to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) will be held by June 30. The government, he said, has also agreed to their demand of not allowing Singh or any of his family members or associates to participate in the polls. The WFI will also have an internal complaints committee, headed by a woman, as demanded by the wrestlers, he added.
Asked about the wrestlers’ demand for Singh’s arrest, Thakur said the investigation into the case will be completed and a chargesheet will be filed by June 15.
One of the main demands of the protesting wrestlers has been the arrest of Singh for allegedly sexually abusing a minor and six women wrestlers.
30 June
Deadline for WFI elections, as per the minister
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