The dispute between wrestlers and WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Singh has taken a new turn. The father of a young wrestler claimed on Thursday that he intentionally made a false police report alleging sexual harassment against the WFI chief in order to retaliate against the organisation for what he believed to be an injustice done against his daughter.
The surprising admission made by the father significantly weakens the case against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been the target of relentless protests from top Indian wrestlers for the past six months over accusations of sexually harassing female competitors. A POCSO Act probe was also prompted by the minor wrestler's complaint.
The father's purported anxiety is thought to have started during the Lucknow tryouts for the 2022 Under-17 Asian Championship, where the minor lost the championship game and was not chosen for the Indian team. The father lashed out that he was furious because the referee's final ruling had ruined his child's one year of hard work.
When the PTI agency questioned him about why he was upset with Singh when the referee was allegedly biased, he responded, "Who had deputed the referee? It was the federation. And who is the federation's leader? So who will I be furious with?
The parent added that the protesting wrestlers had no impact on him or his daughter. "No one approached me. We were wrong so it was our decision. They were also wronged and wrong is wrong." Singh to this sudden change of heart by the father of the minor, said he won't hold grudges against anyone.
Indian wrestlers, meanwhile, have suspended their protest against Brij Bhushan after the government pledged to look into allegations of sexual harassment against him. The government's assurance that an inquiry into Singh would be finished by June 15 led the wrestlers to call off their protest. Olympic medal-winning wrestler Bajrang Punia stated, "If no action is taken by June 15, we will continue our protest."
