The wrestlers who were protesting against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh called off their agitation late Friday night. The decision was announced after Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur assured them that Singh would step aside until the probe into the sexual harassment allegations against him is completed.
The government has decided to form an oversight committee that will investigate the allegations of sexual harassment of women wrestlers. The committee, members of which will be named on Saturday, will also oversee the day-to-day affairs of the federation.
"It has been decided that an oversight committee will be formed, names for which will be announced tomorrow. The committee will complete its investigation within four weeks. It will thoroughly probe all the allegations be it financial or sexual harassment that have been levelled against WFI and its chief," Thakur said on Friday.
Bajrang Punia said they never wanted to take the protest route but they were "pushed to limit".
Earlier on Friday, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) formed a seven-member committee, including M.C. Mary Kom and Yogeshwar Dutt, to probe the allegations. The agitating wrestlers had reached out to IOA president P.T. Usha, demanding the formation of an inquiry committee to probe the allegations against Singh. The committee also includes archer Dola Banerjee and Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) president and IOA treasurer Sahdev Yadav.
WFI chief and six-time Lok Sabha MP Singh had said he won't step down and likened the protests against him to 'dharna of Shaheen Bagh”. Though he was set to address the press on Friday evening, it was later called off. He is expected to speak with the media on Sunday, after the WFI emergency Executive Council meeting.
