Sports Minister Anurag Thakur shall be meet wrestlers at 10 pm on Thursday over sexual harassment allegations in opposition to wrestling physique officers. The nation’s ace wrestlers on Thursday continued their protest in opposition to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) over allegations of sexual exploitation of a number of athletes through the years by the federation chief and several other coaches stating that they are going to proceed to protest till their calls for are met. “Today is the second day of our protest and we haven’t got any satisfactory response from the government. We will make sure Brij Bhushan Singh resigns and is jailed. We will also file a case,” wrestler Vinesh Phogat stated whereas addressing the media at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

Vinesh Phogat had beforehand alleged that coaches who’re favourites of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) misbehave with girls wrestlers and harass them. She additionally accused the WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually exploiting girls athletes and calling her a ‘khota sikka’ after her defeat on the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Singh has denied the allegations.

The Union Sports Ministry has sought a proof from WFI and directed it to furnish a reply inside the subsequent 72 hours on the allegations made. The centre, in a press release on Wednesday, has made it clear that if the WFI doesn’t reply within the subsequent three days, the sports activities ministry “will proceed to initiate action against the federation in terms of the provisions of the National Sports Development Code, 2011.”

“Taking cognizance of the protest staged by wrestlers, including Olympic and CWG medalists, in Delhi today and a press conference in which wrestlers have levelled serious charges of sexual harassment of women wrestlers by the President and coaches of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and of mismanagement in the functioning of the federation, the Sports Ministry has sought an explanation from WFI and directed it to furnish a reply within the next 72 hours on the allegations made. In its communication to WFI, the Ministry has stated that “because the matter pertains to the effectively being of athletes, the Ministry has taken a really severe view of the matter.” the sports ministry said in the statement.

“The Ministry has additional said that if WFI fails to furnish the reply inside the subsequent 72 hours, the Ministry will proceed to provoke motion in opposition to the federation by way of the provisions of the National Sports Development Code, 2011.”

Also, a meeting of the Executive Committee and the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the WFI is slated to be held on January 22 in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh and its chief Singh will participate. Olympian wrestler Bajrang Punia said on Thursday, “Five to 6 girls wrestlers are right here with us who’ve confronted these atrocities and now we have proof to show it.”

Olympic champion wrestler Sakshi Malik said, “Government didn’t promise any motion, they’ve solely given assurance and we’re not proud of the response, we request PM sir to make sure justice.”

Champion former wrestler and Haryana BJP leader Babita Phogat reached the protest site on Thursday to meet the wrestlers as a mediator from the government and assured the grapplers that their demands will be met. “I’ve assured them that the federal government is with them. I’ll strive that their points are resolved right now,” Babita said.

“Babita Phogat has come from the federal government’s facet for mediation. We will converse along with her after which give extra particulars,” wrestler Bajrang Punia said.