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By India Today News Desk: Wrestling Federation of India president Birj Bhushan Singh, who faces sexual harassment charges, on Monday pointed out that the sport has come to a standstill in the last four months due to protests and said he is ready to be hanged but wrestling activity should not stop.
Several top wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, have been protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar seeking Brij Bhushan Singh’s arrest and ouster from the federation.
All wrestling activities, including championships and camps, were stopped after several wrestlers came out in protest accusing the WFI chief of sexually exploiting women grapplers.
Brij Bhushan Singh, who faces two FIRs, said stopping wrestling activity is detrimental to the cadet and junior wrestlers.
Hang me, but don’t stop wrestling
Brij Bhushan Singh
WFI president
“Don’t play with the future of children. Allow the cadet nationals to take place. Whosoever organises it, be it the government or the WFI, don’t stop the wrestling activity,” the federation chief told reporters.
READ | Not a criminal, says WFI chief; calls wrestlers’ protest ‘politically motivated’
Earlier, Brij Bhushan Singh, who has remained defiant of not quitting his post, said he was ready to resign if it would make the protesters go back home and sleep peacefully. But the protesting wrestlers remain adamant that the stir will continue till action is taken against Singh.
Top wrestlers first came out in protest against the WFI chief in January, accusing him of sexual exploitation and intimidation. The wrestlers had demanded that WFI be disbanded and its president be removed. The sports ministry then formed an oversight committee headed by boxing great MC Mary Kom on January 23 and asked it to submit its findings in one month. The government is yet to make the findings public.
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