Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia has dismissed Sports Minister Anurag Thakur's claim that he spent 12 hours with the wrestlers to to resolve the issue. Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik are the three central characters in the renewed protests against the Wrestling Federation of India president, who has been accused of sexual harassment and intimidation by the grapplers. "A few wrestlers are sitting in protest at Jantar Mantar. The last time as well I had met them personally. So did the Central Sports Secretary. I met with them for hours, not for one but two days. After speaking to them, the fact finding and oversight committee was formed. Whoever wanted to present themselves to the committee were given the opportunity to do so. Women were included in majority in the committee so that the female wrestlers can speak more freely to them. The oversight committee then gave their recommendations, which is one part of it," Thakur had said. He further added, "For an unbiased election, which was also what the wrestlers demanded, we gave the Indian Olympics Association the right to conduct the same. As has always been the case. So, IOA also appointed their own ad-hoc committee. And now that ad-hoc committee will hold the elections within 45 days. A new WFI core would be formed. A retired judge will be appointed to freely conduct the same. The whole committee will oversee the selection of the new WFI chief, organisation of the tournament and the decisions that pertain to the same, along with the formulation of an internal complaints committee where any athlete, boy or girl, can raise their concerns. So, all the steps are being taken in that direction. It’s a process. As far as the FIR is concerned, even before they sat for protests earlier this year, they could’ve registered their complaints at any police station even earlier." "They had asked to add a member and gave Babita Phogat's name and we added her to the committee. There is nothing in our mind, we wanted an impartial probe," Thakur said at a press conference on Thursday. #WATCH | Delhi: "Sports Minister sat with athletes only for a few minutes.at times we were intimidated in the meeting.": Protesting Wrestlers on Union Sports Minister's reaction on their protest against WFI chief & BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh pic.twitter.com/edzFF3BGrw — ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2023 However, Bajrang Punia refuted Thakur’s claims. “Once ask the sports minister for how long you were sitting among the players,” he told ANI. “He sat for 2-4 minutes with the players. His officials were mediating with the players.” Vinesh Phogat also echoed Punia’s allegations and said the sports minister didn’t even spend 12 minutes with the sportspersons and they were at times were intimidated during the meeting. On Friday, the Supreme Court will be hearing the plea by seven wrestlers seeking registration of FIR against the WFI president. The SC noted that there are serious allegations that are contained in the petition by wrestlers who have represented India. The apex court also issued notice to Delhi Police pertaining to the plea filed by the wrestlers. Over the last four days, the wrestlers have slept and trained at the protest site.
