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By Pankaj Jain: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday extended his support to wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and said those who harass women should be hanged. Brij Bhushan Singh, also a BJP MP, has been accused of sexual harassment by women wrestlers.
“Wrestlers who have made the country proud have been protesting at Jantar Mantar for the past week. They have been insulted. Those who harass women should be hanged,” Kejriwal said after meeting the grapplers at the protest site.
READ | Not a criminal, says WFI chief; calls wrestlers’ protest ‘politically motivated’
The Aam Aadmi Party chief further accused the Centre of shielding WFI chief Birj Bhushan Singh, who has been named in two FIRs on allegations of sexual harassment levelled by seven women wrestlers, including a minor.
“It is unfortunate that we had to go to the Supreme Court to file an FIR,” Kejriwal said, urging citizens to join the wrestlers’ protest.
“Anna Hazare came here and changed politics. This demonstration will bring a change in sports. Those who love India, take a leave and join the protest,” Kejriwal added.
The country’s top wrestlers, who have been on a sit-in demanding action against Brij Bhushan Singh, welcomed the registration of the FIRs but said they will continue their agitation until the WFI chief is removed from all posts and is arrested.
But, Brij Bhushan Singh, who earlier denied the sexual harassment allegations, has said he is not a criminal and would not step down.
“I am totally innocent. Will cooperate with any inquiry. Their (wrestlers) demands are changing constantly. Resigning would mean accepting the charges. They (charges) are politically motivated. I have never been convicted by any court in any case,” he said.
In January, top wrestlers came out in protest against the WFI chief, 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.
Wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia, want the government to make public the findings of the oversight panel that investigated sexual harassment allegations against Brij Bhushan Singh.
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