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HARASSMENT CASE AGAINST WFI CHIEF LEADS TO POLITICAL RUCKUS IN HARYANA

Accusing the Wrestling Federation on India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment, the top wrestlers of the country continue to protest against him. WFI chief with a gray past has courted controversies several times earlier. Prior to this, a woman athlete and junior coach also had leveled serious allegation of sexual harassment […]

Accusing the Wrestling Federation on India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment, the top wrestlers of the country continue to protest against him. WFI chief with a gray past has courted controversies several times earlier. Prior to this, a woman athlete and junior coach also had leveled serious allegation of sexual harassment and molestation against the Haryana Sports Minister Sandeep Singh then which resulted in handing over his portfolio to the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. In wake of these matter, all the Olympic players, including Vinesh Phogat, Ravi Dahiya, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia who has accused the Indian Wrestling Federation President of sexual harassment, are on strike. After this issue surfaced, the politics of Haryana is in full swing which led to uproar. The matter is being given a political colour, and to some extent the main ruling party BJP and other parties stand united in support of wrestlers. The state Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has also made his stand clearly and come up in support of the women sports persons stating that the safety of women athletes is very important and we take it seriously. We will not let their morale down. “All the issues raised by the athletes will be taken seriously,” he further added. Apart from the BJP former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda has come out strongly in support of the players protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India. Hooda said it is a matter of great misfortune and shame that our players, the pride of the country, have to protest on the streets. Hooda said the allegations against the officials of Wrestling Federation of India are serious and worrying. “The government should take strict action against the culprits by conducting a fair and transparent investigation,” he added. He said the sports persons who bring glory to the country are also being forced to sit on dharna. “Serious allegations have been levelled against the wrestling federation and its president by women wrestlers. Apart from ruling the BJP and the Congress, Dighvijay Chautala, a Jannayak Janta Party leader has come in support of wrestlers. In wake of the seriousness of the issue, the Khap panchayats of Haryana have also jumped in support of the wrestlers who are protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. The representatives of the Khap Panchayat have swung into action and said that it is the responsibility of the state government to protect the rights of the sportspersons and stand with sportspersons. He demanded that the central government should take further action considering the demands of the players without delay. A major allegation of sexual exploitation of female wrestlers has also been leveled against him. Now the Khap Panchayats of Haryana have also opened their front regarding this issue. About a dozen khap panchayats have come in favour of the players. In the last few years, players from Haryana have been performing consistently which brought laurels to the country as Haryana has topped the tally in Tokyo Olympics . In the last Tokyo Olympics, India won 7 medals including 1 gold. Out of these, 7 medals have been won in the individual category. Out of these, 3 medals were won by the players of Haryana. The men’s hockey team that won the bronze medal also had two players from Haryana. A total of 127 players were included in the team sent to the Olympics and 30 of them were from Haryana. India has won a total of 36 Olympic medals so far. Of these, 23 medals are in the single category and among these 23 singles medals, 7 belong to the players of Haryana alone. These seven medals have come in the last 4 Olympics.

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