‘Some industrialists, Congress behind protests, not wrestlers’: WFI chief Brij Bhushan amid sexual harassment allegations
“I am innocent and ready to face the investigation. I am ready to cooperate with the investigative agency. I have full faith in the judiciary and I respect the order of the Supreme Court,” the BJP leader told reporters on Saturday.
A day after two FIRs were registered against him following sexual harassment allegations, Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh maintained that he was innocent and “ready to face an investigation”. He further alleged that the Congress party and some industrialists were behind the recent protests held by top wrestlers at Jantar Mantar.
“Resignation is not a big deal but I am not a criminal. If I resign, it will mean that I have accepted their (wrestlers’) allegations. My tenure is almost over,” he said, according to news agency ANI.
His statement comes a day after solicitor general Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court that the Delhi Police will file an FIR against Singh amid renewed protests by the country’s top wrestlers.
#WATCH | Resignation is not a big deal but I am not a criminal. If I resign, it will mean that I have accepted their (wrestlers’) allegations. My tenure is almost over. Govt has formed a 3-member committee and elections will be held in 45 days & my term will end after the… pic.twitter.com/0NL38KCz43
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2023
“I am ready to cooperate with the investigative agency. I have full faith in the judiciary and I respect the order of the Supreme Court,” the BJP leader told reporters on Saturday. He added that a three-member committee had already been formed to elect the next WFI chief and that the election would be held in 45 days.
Claiming that he had the support of a majority of the wrestlers in Haryana, he added: “Every day they (wrestlers) are coming with new demands. They demanded an FIR, FIR was registered and now they are saying that I should be sent to jail and resign from all posts. I am MP because of people of my constituency and not because of Vinesh Phogat.”
#WATCH | Every day they (wrestlers) are coming with their new demands. They demanded FIR, FIR was registered and now they are saying that I should be sent to jail and resign from all posts. I am MP because of people of my constituency and not becasue of Vinesh Phogat. Only one… pic.twitter.com/j2jSpdFJe7
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2023
Following the hearing in the apex court, the Delhi Police Friday registered two FIRs against Brij Bhushan, one under the stringent POCSO Act and another related to outraging the modesty of a woman. The DCP said investigation into both the FIRs has been taken up “in right earnest”.
Meanwhile, the wrestlers, who have been protesting against the WFI chief at Jantar Mantar since April 23, said they will continue their sit-in until Singh is arrested.