New Delhi: Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Bajrang Punia said on Wednesday that women wrestlers would not feel safe if the associates of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh were contesting for the presidency of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
Bajrang Punia demanded the government to keep to its promise about barring relatives and close associates of the Singh, who is found liable for prosecution over sexual harassment, from contesting the poll, The Indian Express reported.
The nation witnessed weeks of roiling protest in Delhi by women wrestlers demanding ouster of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh from WFI’s key position.
Wrestlers, however, put in abeyance their protest after having talks with sports minister Anurag Thakur in June.
Bajrang reportedly claimed that during the talks it was agreed to bar family members or supporters of Singh from contesting WFI polls, The Indian Express reported.
‘Those close to Brij Bhushan are in the fray for the elections. Sanjay Kumar Singh is contesting for the post of WFI president. If Sanjay Kumar wins, it is equal to Brij Bhushan winning the elections. The government had promised us that those close to Brij Bhushan and his family members won’t contest. But that doesn’t seem to be the case now’, Bajrang was quoted as saying.
‘How long will women wrestlers live in fear?’ Bajrang asked, highlighting the angst of the wrestlers whose protracted agitation nearly shook the nation.
Bajrang said that Brij Bushan is so powerful and well-connected that Wrestlers wanted change in the WFI.
The 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anita Sheoran,backed by Bajrang and two other prominent wrestlers, is running for the presidency.