New Delhi: In a major development in the wrestlers' protest, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur had a marathon meeting with Olympians Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik on Wednesday in which the latter were assured through a written proposal that the investigation in the case against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief will be completed by June 15.
Protesting wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik met Thakur at his residence for talks after the midnight invite extended by the minsiter. The meeting went on for about five hours in which the wrestlers put forth their demands before the minister.
Soon after the meeting, Punia told the media that they have suspended the protest till June 15 but "the movement is not over yet". Sakshi Malik said that they have been assured that Delhi Police will withdraw FIRs filed against the wrestlers on May 28, the day they attempted to march towards the new Parliament building.
Briefing media after the meeting, Anurag Thakur said the chargesheet in the case against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will be filed by June 15. "The meeting was positive, all decisions were taken unanimously," he said while adding that WFI will have an Internal Complaints Committee, headed by a woman. He also announced that the WFI elections will be held by June 30
Punia and Sakshi had made five demands to the Union Minister including free and fair elections to the WFI and appointing a woman chief. They also demanded that Brij Bhushan Singh, accused of sexually harassing women grapplers, or his family members cannot be part of the organisation. The grapplers also wanted a police case filed against them on May 28 by the Delhi Police to be withdrawn. They also reiterated their demand for Singh's arrest.
Earlier Thakur on Wednesday announced that he would hold the next round of talks with the wrestlers. The invitation was extended after Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, who resumed their work in the Indian Railways as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for Sports, said they would not even take ten seconds to quit if their job becomes a hindrance to their struggle for justice in the string of sexual harassment plaints.
Thakur in a short tweet, which he sent out past midnight had said, "The government is willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues. I have once again invited the wrestlers for the same". This was the second round of talks with the protesting wrestlers.
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Olympians Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik had earlier said those who discredited their medals were now after their jobs. When our life is in line, losing our job is just a small cog, they said while adding that they would not blink to resign if their employments becomes a hindrance to their cause. Both have tweeted similar content from their Twitter handles.
On Saturday, wrestlers met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the latter's residence where the meeting went on for nearly an hour in the night. The wrestlers have sought the Union Minister to direct the Delhi Police which reports to him to take necessary action against the WFI chief.
Read-Wrestlers case: How Delhi Police took 'U' turn from "investigation" to "consideration"
Police removed the protesting wrestlers from Jantar Mantar protest site on a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi installed Sengol and dedicated the new Parliament House building to the nation. The wrestlers attempted to march towards the new Parliament and to hold a stir in front of that building. Wrestlers who threatened to consign their Olympic medals in the river Ganga flowing through Haridwar were convinced to hold their bid back by the farmer leaders including Naresh Tikait.
Read more - Wrestlers protest: A timeline to Haridwar from Jantar Mantar
Police are in receipt of 10 complaints. Two FIRs have been lodged against Brij Bhushan including one which has attracted the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act as the victim involved is a minor girl. The other case pertains to the charges of outraging the modesty of women.
