Update: January 1, 2024Sanjay Singh, the president of the suspended Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), on Monday said he neither recognises the government-imposed suspension nor the ad-hoc panel managing wrestling in India. Singh stated that the suspended panel will soon organise the national championship on its own.
Update: December 30, 2023Vinesh Phogat has returned her Khel Ratna award and Arjuna Award in protest against the election of Sanjay Singh.
Update: December 21, 2023After Sanjay Singh has been elected as the WFI's new president, Sakshi Malik, top Indian wrestler who won a bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics, has announced her decision to retire from wrestling immediately: "If Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's business partner and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, I quit wrestling."
Sanjay Singh is a close aide of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh, against whom wrestler have been protesting due to decade-long incident of sexual harassment, stalking, and molestation. In response Brij Bhushan Singh has said: "Whoever wants a message, take this message: I had dominance. I will remain dominant."
Note: This came months after the WFI had missed the August deadline to appoint a new president due to ongoing court cases, forcing Indian wrestlers to compete under a neutral flag at global events.
Update: July 11Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is "liable to be prosecuted and punished for offences" of stalking and molestation, the Delhi Police chargesheet said based on the "investigation so far."
Update: June 13A chargesheet lodged against Brij Bhushan Singh flags multiple offenses such as section 506 (criminal intimidation), 354 (outraging modesty of a woman); 354 A (sexual harassment); and 354 D (stalking) against Singh.
Update: June 8After the meeting with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur Sakshi Malik declared that "the government has sought time till June 15 for the investigation to conclude. The protest is not over yet. We will not stage any protest till June 15."
Update: June 7Sports Minister Anurag Thakur announced that "the government is willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues."
Update: June 5A delegation of protesting wrestling met Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Wrestlers clarified that they are not withdrawing their protest: "Our fight continues till justice is served. Please don't spread any wrong news."
Update: June 3One Olympian, a Commonwealth gold medallist, an international referee and a state-level coach have corroborated the allegations of the wrestlers. They are four of the 125 potential witnesses across four states whose statement have been recorded by Delhi Police.
This came after the FIRs registered by the wrestlers were made public. The FIRs have at least two instances of demanding "sexual favour," close to 15 incidents of sexual harassment and 10 episodes of inappropriate touching and molestation, instances of intimidation and stalking.
Update: May 31The United World Wrestling Press issued a statement and re-iterated that if the Indian Olympic Association and the Ad-hoc Committee of the WFI does not conduct a fair elective assembly, UWW will suspend the WFI. This would mean that the wrestlers will play under a neutral flag.
Update: May 30The wrestlers announced that they would immerse their medals in Ganga, Haridwar in protest against Brij Bhushan Singh. They were stopped by farmer leaders present there who have asked for five days to resolve the issue.
Update: May 28The protesting wrestlers marched to the new Parliament building being inaugurated. Delhi Police and paramilitary forces stopped the wrestlers. The wrestlers are manhandled and detained by the Delhi Police.
Delhi Police filed an FIR with multiple charges against the wrestlers. The security forces also cleared the Jantar Mantar protest site and communicated that they will not be permitted to protest at Jantar Mantar.
Update: May 23To mark one month of their sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar, the wrestlers, along with citizens took out a candle march.
Update: May 4,On the night of May 3, Delhi Police manhandled and abused the wrestlers who have been at Jantar Mantar over nearly a week now. Apart from the demands listed below, we also demand that appropriate action be taking against the concerned Police personnel.
Update: May 1, 2023Wrestlers Brij Bhushan Singh has declared that
"If PM says, I will immediately resign, if Amit Shah and J.P. Nadda say, then too."
Update: April 30Wrestlers FIR was registered after the athletes have been at demanding justice at Jantar Mantar. However, Brij Bhushan Singh has refused to step down until the end of his term as President.
Update: April 28At least 7 wrestlers tried to register FIRs against Brij Bhushan Singh at Connaught Place Police Station in Delhi. They were not registered by the police, after which the protesters returned to Jantar Mantar to demand justice.
Update: Apr 24Wrestlers are protesting at Jantar Mantar once again. They have filed FIRs asking for the arrest of Brij Bhushan Singh.
Our demands in support with the wrestlers:1. Publish the findings of the OC's investigations immediately.
2. Arrest Brij Bhushan Singh.
3. form an Internal Committee as per the PoSH Act, 2013 at the WFI. [1][4]
Update: April 10The six-member Oversight Committee, after much delay, submitted its report in the first week of April. But, the report has not been made public. Moreover, a senior WFI functionary has announced that WFI will resume its functioning at the end of April. Bajrang Punia, a protesting wrestler, has made their position clear by expressing his concern: "when the committee's report has not come out, how can WFI state normal functioning? There are also reports that one member of the committee has signed it with objections. So, we don't know what is happening here. We don't want wrestling to suffer. It is a serious matter, otherwise we would not have come out and protested on the streets. We want justice."
Update: Mar 29, 2023It has been over a month since the extension was granted. The date requested by the OC has passed but no report has been published yet.
We have updated our demands:1. Publish the findings of the OC's investigations immediately.
2. the WFI form an Internal Committee as per the PoSH Act, 2013. [1][4]
Update: Feb 23, 2023The term of the oversight committee has been extended: "MYAS has extended the term of the Oversight Committee for wrestling by two week for submission of the report pertaining to the complaint filed by a group of wrestlers against the Wrestling Federation of India. The extension has been granted on request from the Oversight Committee," the ministry said in a statement.
United World Wrestling shifted the Asian Wrestling Championship out of India. [8]
Update: Jan 23A five-member Oversight Committee (OC) has been appointed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Mary Kom has been appointed to lead the OC. The OC is delegated to probe into the complaints made by the wrestlers and submitting a report in a month's time on the same. In the meantime, the OC will be carrying out the WFI's day-to-day work. [7]
Update: Jan 21The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports suspended all activities of the WFI. This suspension will remain in effect until an Oversight Comittee is appointed. [6]
Several national team wrestlers, including top players, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malikkh, and Bajrang Punia, sat on a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar for the second day on Thursday against the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) president, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and coaches over multiple incidents of sexual and mental harassment over the years.
They are demanding the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to immediately appoint a committee to enquire into the complaints of sexual harassment, resignation of the current WFI President, dissolution of the WFI, and the formation of a new committee to run the affairs of the WFI in consultation with the wrestlers. [2]
We stand in solidarity with all the protesting wrestlers.
We demand that:
the WFI form an Internal Committee as per the PoSH Act, 2013. [1][4]
the Internal Committee of WFI start proceedings right away and investigate this matter on an urgent basis.
the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports urgently look into the matter and intervene.
It takes immense courage for wrestlers to raise their voice against predatory coaches and the management who hold power in an institution. We must support them and let WFI know that they can not get away with this. Demand accountability from the WFI to prioritize safety of our athletes- sign the petition!
Sources
Update: January 1, 2024Sanjay Singh, the president of the suspended Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), on Monday said he neither recognises the government-imposed suspension nor the ad-hoc panel managing wrestling in India. Singh stated that the suspended panel will soon organise the national championship on its own.
Update: December 30, 2023Vinesh Phogat has returned her Khel Ratna award and Arjuna Award in protest against the election of Sanjay Singh.
Update: December 21, 2023After Sanjay Singh has been elected as the WFI's new president, Sakshi Malik, top Indian wrestler who won a bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics, has announced her decision to retire from wrestling immediately: "If Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's business partner and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, I quit wrestling."
Sanjay Singh is a close aide of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh, against whom wrestler have been protesting due to decade-long incident of sexual harassment, stalking, and molestation. In response Brij Bhushan Singh has said: "Whoever wants a message, take this message: I had dominance. I will remain dominant."
Note: This came months after the WFI had missed the August deadline to appoint a new president due to ongoing court cases, forcing Indian wrestlers to compete under a neutral flag at global events.
Update: July 11Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is "liable to be prosecuted and punished for offences" of stalking and molestation, the Delhi Police chargesheet said based on the "investigation so far."
Update: June 13A chargesheet lodged against Brij Bhushan Singh flags multiple offenses such as section 506 (criminal intimidation), 354 (outraging modesty of a woman); 354 A (sexual harassment); and 354 D (stalking) against Singh.
Update: June 8After the meeting with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur Sakshi Malik declared that "the government has sought time till June 15 for the investigation to conclude. The protest is not over yet. We will not stage any protest till June 15."
Update: June 7Sports Minister Anurag Thakur announced that "the government is willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues."
Update: June 5A delegation of protesting wrestling met Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Wrestlers clarified that they are not withdrawing their protest: "Our fight continues till justice is served. Please don't spread any wrong news."
Update: June 3One Olympian, a Commonwealth gold medallist, an international referee and a state-level coach have corroborated the allegations of the wrestlers. They are four of the 125 potential witnesses across four states whose statement have been recorded by Delhi Police.
This came after the FIRs registered by the wrestlers were made public. The FIRs have at least two instances of demanding "sexual favour," close to 15 incidents of sexual harassment and 10 episodes of inappropriate touching and molestation, instances of intimidation and stalking.
Update: May 31The United World Wrestling Press issued a statement and re-iterated that if the Indian Olympic Association and the Ad-hoc Committee of the WFI does not conduct a fair elective assembly, UWW will suspend the WFI. This would mean that the wrestlers will play under a neutral flag.
Update: May 30The wrestlers announced that they would immerse their medals in Ganga, Haridwar in protest against Brij Bhushan Singh. They were stopped by farmer leaders present there who have asked for five days to resolve the issue.
Update: May 28The protesting wrestlers marched to the new Parliament building being inaugurated. Delhi Police and paramilitary forces stopped the wrestlers. The wrestlers are manhandled and detained by the Delhi Police.
Delhi Police filed an FIR with multiple charges against the wrestlers. The security forces also cleared the Jantar Mantar protest site and communicated that they will not be permitted to protest at Jantar Mantar.
Update: May 23To mark one month of their sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar, the wrestlers, along with citizens took out a candle march.
Update: May 4,On the night of May 3, Delhi Police manhandled and abused the wrestlers who have been at Jantar Mantar over nearly a week now. Apart from the demands listed below, we also demand that appropriate action be taking against the concerned Police personnel.
Update: May 1, 2023Wrestlers Brij Bhushan Singh has declared that
"If PM says, I will immediately resign, if Amit Shah and J.P. Nadda say, then too."
Update: April 30Wrestlers FIR was registered after the athletes have been at demanding justice at Jantar Mantar. However, Brij Bhushan Singh has refused to step down until the end of his term as President.
Update: April 28At least 7 wrestlers tried to register FIRs against Brij Bhushan Singh at Connaught Place Police Station in Delhi. They were not registered by the police, after which the protesters returned to Jantar Mantar to demand justice.
Update: Apr 24Wrestlers are protesting at Jantar Mantar once again. They have filed FIRs asking for the arrest of Brij Bhushan Singh.
Our demands in support with the wrestlers:1. Publish the findings of the OC's investigations immediately.
2. Arrest Brij Bhushan Singh.
3. form an Internal Committee as per the PoSH Act, 2013 at the WFI. [1][4]
Update: April 10The six-member Oversight Committee, after much delay, submitted its report in the first week of April. But, the report has not been made public. Moreover, a senior WFI functionary has announced that WFI will resume its functioning at the end of April. Bajrang Punia, a protesting wrestler, has made their position clear by expressing his concern: "when the committee's report has not come out, how can WFI state normal functioning? There are also reports that one member of the committee has signed it with objections. So, we don't know what is happening here. We don't want wrestling to suffer. It is a serious matter, otherwise we would not have come out and protested on the streets. We want justice."
Update: Mar 29, 2023It has been over a month since the extension was granted. The date requested by the OC has passed but no report has been published yet.
We have updated our demands:1. Publish the findings of the OC's investigations immediately.
2. the WFI form an Internal Committee as per the PoSH Act, 2013. [1][4]
Update: Feb 23, 2023The term of the oversight committee has been extended: "MYAS has extended the term of the Oversight Committee for wrestling by two week for submission of the report pertaining to the complaint filed by a group of wrestlers against the Wrestling Federation of India. The extension has been granted on request from the Oversight Committee," the ministry said in a statement.
United World Wrestling shifted the Asian Wrestling Championship out of India. [8]
Update: Jan 23A five-member Oversight Committee (OC) has been appointed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Mary Kom has been appointed to lead the OC. The OC is delegated to probe into the complaints made by the wrestlers and submitting a report in a month's time on the same. In the meantime, the OC will be carrying out the WFI's day-to-day work. [7]
Update: Jan 21The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports suspended all activities of the WFI. This suspension will remain in effect until an Oversight Comittee is appointed. [6]
Several national team wrestlers, including top players, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malikkh, and Bajrang Punia, sat on a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar for the second day on Thursday against the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) president, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and coaches over multiple incidents of sexual and mental harassment over the years.
They are demanding the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to immediately appoint a committee to enquire into the complaints of sexual harassment, resignation of the current WFI President, dissolution of the WFI, and the formation of a new committee to run the affairs of the WFI in consultation with the wrestlers. [2]
We stand in solidarity with all the protesting wrestlers.
We demand that:
the WFI form an Internal Committee as per the PoSH Act, 2013. [1][4]
the Internal Committee of WFI start proceedings right away and investigate this matter on an urgent basis.
the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports urgently look into the matter and intervene.
It takes immense courage for wrestlers to raise their voice against predatory coaches and the management who hold power in an institution. We must support them and let WFI know that they can not get away with this. Demand accountability from the WFI to prioritize safety of our athletes- sign the petition!
Sources
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