Indian Wrestlers Ask Boxer Turned Politician Vijender Singh To Get Off Protest Stage

New Delhi: Congress politician and Indian boxer Vijender Singh attended the protest held by the wrestlers at Jantar Mantar on Friday, January 20. The Olympic medalist addressed the media and stated that he was there to support the sporting fraternity who have accused the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) of exploitation.

Early in the morning, Singh sat on the protest stage, but he was requested to leave and sit with the rest of the crowd since the wrestlers did not want any political overtones to the events.

Notably, the demonstrators had earlier on Thursday asked CPI politician Brinda Karat to get off the stage as she was seated on stage.

The WFI Chief, Brij Bhushan Singh, has been called out by the Indian wrestlers, who have taken to Jantar Mantar to demand his dismissal. Several accusations, including sexual harassment and extortion, have been levelled against the president.

“At the Junior World Championships, the WFI president remained on the same floor and in the opposite room from the young women. He’d leave his door open. Every girl was made to feel uncomfortable, claimed Olympic bronze medalist Sakshi Malik.

The wrestlers met with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur late on Thursday, but reports say the meeting was unsuccessful. Another round of negotiations between the honoured athletes and the WFI president is anticipated.

Commonwealth Games Gold medalist Vinesh Phogat has threatened the WFI, saying that if the offenders do not resign on their own, the wrestlers will start legal action to have them lodged behind bars.

WFI president Brij Bhushan Singh was expected to make his statement to the press on Friday, 12 PM, but that has been pushed back to 4 PM over unknown reasons.