edited by: Revathi Hariharan
Last Update: January 20, 2023, 2:08 PM IST
Priyanka Chaturvedi targets Smriti Irani for keeping silence on sexual harassment allegations (file photo)
The Shiv Sena leader also expressed concern over the lack of action by the Union Sports Minister and the National Commission for Women.
Politics comes into play as more wrestlers protest against serious allegations of sexual misconduct against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Saran Singh. Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi today led the attack against the ruling government over the delay in action.
“It is a matter of shame that the women wrestlers who have spoken about the harassment faced by them, the sports minister has not yet sacked the WFI president. What inquiry can be done with the man who is still in charge?” Shiv Sena MP tweeted.
Chaturvedi also targeted Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani for maintaining silence in the matter. She tweeted, “Government continues to fail women, Women and Child Development Minister is silent as ever.”
The Shiv Sena leader also expressed concern over the lack of action by the Union Sports Minister and the National Commission for Women and tweeted, “NCW has taken suo motu action in many cases in the past as well, but here they are waiting for complaints from women wrestlers. Amazing double standard.
National Commission for Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma said the NCW has not received a single complaint from the wrestlers who are protesting. Rekha Sharma earlier told ANI, “If someone files a complaint with us, we immediately investigate and take action.”
Eminent Indian wrestlers including Olympic medalists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik and World Championship medalist Vinesh Phogat have been staging a sit-in against the Wrestling Federation at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for the past two days. India President and Bharatiya Janata Party MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh accused him of sexual harassment and threats.
Meanwhile, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is scheduled to address a press conference later today. He has said that he is innocent and said that if even a single girl comes forward saying that she was sexually assaulted, I will hang myself.
Some of the protesting wrestlers met the union on Thursday Play Minister Anurag Thakur, but the meeting remained inconclusive as he refused to back down from his demand that the government immediately dissolve the WFI.
The ministry cannot force Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to resign until it gets a written reply from the WFI as the government itself has sought clarification from the wrestling body.
The WFI is yet to respond to the Sports Ministry, which on Wednesday gave the wrestling body 72 hours to respond to allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation by its president, several women athletes.
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