New Delhi : Union Sports Ministry has directed the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to send an explanation within the next 72 hours on the serious allegations including sexual harassment charges levelled by the wrestlers against the Wrestling body and its top brass.
The notice was issued by the Sports Authority of India. The apex national sports body of India, in the notice, urged the Federation to submit a detailed explanation into the allegations made by wrestler Vinesh Phogat and others. It also sought for the reasons and instances leading to the wrestlers protest which is underway in Delhi.
Meanwhile, the Women National Wrestling Coaching camp, which was due to start in Sports Authority of India's National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Lucknow from January 18, 2023 with 41 wrestlers and 13 coaches and support staff, has been cancelled, SAI officials said.
On Wednesday, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal went to Jantar Mantar expressing solidarity with the wrestlers protesting against the alleged sexual harassment by WFI chief "I'm shocked. Women who've taken India to great heights have assembled in Jantar Mantar to ask for justice," she said.
"Just went to Jantar Mantar and met the country's champions. They have raised the glory of tricolor. It is very sad that today they have to sit on the road in this severe winter. We stand firmly with them and will get them justice," Swati tweeted in Hindi sharing a video from the meeting.
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अभी जंतर मंतर जाकर देश की चैंपियन #Wrestlers से मिली। उन्होंने हमारे तिरंगे की शान बढ़ाई है। बड़े दुख की बात है कि उन्हें आज इस कड़ाके की सर्दी में सड़क पर बैठना पड़ रहा है। हम मज़बूती से उनके साथ खड़े हैं और उन्हें न्याय दिलाएँगे। pic.twitter.com/XAPYOu8qLN
— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) January 18, 2023 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">अभी जंतर मंतर जाकर देश की चैंपियन #Wrestlers से मिली। उन्होंने हमारे तिरंगे की शान बढ़ाई है। बड़े दुख की बात है कि उन्हें आज इस कड़ाके की सर्दी में सड़क पर बैठना पड़ रहा है। हम मज़बूती से उनके साथ खड़े हैं और उन्हें न्याय दिलाएँगे। pic.twitter.com/XAPYOu8qLN
— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) January 18, 2023अभी जंतर मंतर जाकर देश की चैंपियन #Wrestlers से मिली। उन्होंने हमारे तिरंगे की शान बढ़ाई है। बड़े दुख की बात है कि उन्हें आज इस कड़ाके की सर्दी में सड़क पर बैठना पड़ रहा है। हम मज़बूती से उनके साथ खड़े हैं और उन्हें न्याय दिलाएँगे। pic.twitter.com/XAPYOu8qLN
— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) January 18, 2023
The DCW Wednesday issued notices to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the city police after Phogat accused the BJP MP and WIFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually exploiting women wrestlers. The panel has also asked police to register an FIR in the matter.
It has sought a copy of complaints made by women wrestlers against coaches and WFI president along with details of action taken thereon by January 21. It has also sought details of Internal Complaints Committee formed by the Wrestling Federation of India. The panel also asked whether these complaints have been forwarded to the ICC and the Local Complaint Committee (LCC) as per Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
Watch: Vinesh Phogat accuses WFI President of sexual abuse, says she received death threats
