Before exit, Brij Bhushan Singh dug his heels in as disquiet grew in BJP

This, even as there was growing disquiet within the BJP over the intensifying protests by some of the country’s most high-profile athletes against its long-serving MP.

There was also worry over the effect the controversy might have on the morale of other sportspersons, especially given Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on acknowledging and honouring their contributions.

The decision of the Indian Olympic Association to set up a panel to probe the sexual harassment allegations paved the way for Singh’s exit. Said a senior leader: “With the IOA announcement, his continuing is untenable…For a fair probe in which every witness can testify without fear or favour, it is important that he is not the chief of the federation.”

However, earlier in the day, there was a section within the BJP that had said he was a powerful political player in Uttar Pradesh and charges against him need to be investigated before his “summary dismissal.”

Singh’s four-year tenure, incidentally, was scheduled to end in March. He has now spent 10 years at the post, having become WFI president for the third time in February 2019.

These sources said Singh had also claimed there is a “conspiracy” behind the allegations as he had “antagonised a few powerful personalities.” He declared publicly Friday that he would not quit.

Last month, Singh had called Baba Ramdev the “king of adulterators” and sought a probe into his food items, provoking a notice by the yoga guru asking him to apologise. Singh refused to do so.

Last year, the Kaiserganj MP had criticised the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh administration over its flood management, accusing it of being ill-prepared, not doing enough for relief, and said people had been left “bhagwan bharose (to the mercy of god)”.

What added to the pressure for action was the Opposition turning on the heat. The Congress demanded Friday that the WFI be dissolved and PM Modi explain what action was taken when issues were reportedly flagged to him by a wrestler in 2021.

Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi questioned “lack of action” by the Union Sports Ministry and National Commission for Women (NCW) against Singh. “The NCW has taken suo motu action in many instances earlier, but here they are waiting for women wrestlers to complain first. Amazing double standards,” Chaturvedi said in a tweet.

Asked about what the NCW was doing in the matter, chairperson Rekha Sharma said she had not received any complaint. “If they want us to take any action, the wrestlers should give a complaint to us,” she told The Indian Express Friday.

In 2018, when Union minister M J Akbar was accused of sexual harassment by women journalists, he was asked by the party to put in his papers.

In 2019, the BJP had expelled its UP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who was accused of raping a woman in Unnao.

In March 2021, following allegations of sexual harassment, Karnataka Water Resources Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi had resigned from the Karnataka Cabinet.

However, hockey player-turned-politician Sandeep Singh continues in the Haryana ministry despite accusations of sexual harassment by a woman coach. While Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar divested him of the Sports portfolio, he has stuck to the stand, despite protests, that Singh cannot be removed on the basis of allegations.

Reflecting the unease over the BJP’s silence on the allegations against Brij Bhushan Singh, a woman party MP said: “Yeh log dekh-dekh-kar action lete hain (they pick and choose who to take action against). There is no uniform rule.”

That Singh didn’t expect his exit was evident. Speaking to The Indian Express earlier, he said he had called a General Body meeting of the federation in Ayodhya on January 22 where all these issues will be discussed. There are around 80 members in the General Body.

Singh said that neither the party (BJP) has asked him for any clarification nor has he approached any leader. “This is an allegation I myself have to face. My party does not need to come in the picture.”