After a crucial meeting between the top wrestlers and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, which lasted for six hours on Wednesday, Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia stated that the government has assured them that the police investigation will be completed before June 15.
“Government has assured us that police investigation will be completed before 15th June. We have requested that all FIRs against wrestlers should be taken back and he has agreed to it. If no action is taken by 15th June, we will continue our protest,” he said.
Speaking to reporters, Anurag Thakur said the government extended an invitation to the wrestlers for a meeting which lasted for six hours. “During the discussion, the allegations made were taken into consideration, and it was decided that a charge sheet would be filed by June 15,” he said.
“Additionally, an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) within the WFI will be established and it will be headed by a woman,” he said.
The WFI elections will take place by June 30 and until then, a two-member committee will be present as suggested, he added. “Current chief Brijbhushan Singh and those associated with him should not be involved in the process,” he asserted.
He also said women wrestlers will be provided security.
“The government approached the matter with utmost seriousness and the conversation was very positive. The aim is to complete the inquiry by June 15 and file the charge sheet accordingly,” Thakur said.
The meeting took place two days after the wrestlers met Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday. The country’s top athletes have been protesting against the alleged sexual misconduct by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
