More than a week after the Indian wrestlers were removed from their protesting site, the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur stated that the government was open to discussion and that an invitation has been extended to the athletes.
A number of Indian wrestlers – including Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, and two-time World Championships bronze-medallist Vinesh Phogat – had been protesting against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is also a BJP MP. The wrestlers have levied allegations of intimidation and sexual harassment against the WFI chief, and the Delhi Police subsequently registered two FIR’s against Singh at the behest of the Supreme Court.
The government is willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues.
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) June 6, 2023
I have once again invited the wrestlers for the same.
Early morning on Wednesday, Thakur tweeted to inform that the government is looking to speak with the wrestlers.
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“The government is willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues,” read his tweet. “I have once again invited the wrestlers for the same.”
Additionally, Thakur said that a committee had been formed to investigate the matter.
“The government has already formed a committee,” Thakur told PTI. “The police are investigating the matter by registering an FIR. A chargesheet will also be filed and fair investigation will be done.”
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Previously, Thakur had met with the wrestlers in January when the first protests had started. The sports ministry, and the Indian Olympic Association, formed individual committees to investigate the allegations. However, neither committee’s reports were made available to the wrestlers, prompting a renewed protest in April.
The sports minister’s latest comments come more than a week after the wrestlers were manhandled and detained by police during their march to the new Parliament building on May 28.
The Indian Express reported that the wrestlers and several coaches had also met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on June 3.
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