The Union Sports Ministry has suspended the newly elected body of the Wrestling Federation of India. After this decision, Sanjay Singh will no longer be the President of WFI. At present, the government has put a stay on all the decisions of the union. Sanjay Singh was recently elected President of WFI. He got 40 votes in the election.
The newly elected president of WFI, Sanjay Singh, as soon as he became the president, had announced the organisation of Under-15 and Under-20 national competitions in Nandini Nagar, Gonda (UP) before the end of this year, and it is believed that due to this the government wrestling association suspended. The Sports Ministry issued a statement saying that the national competitions were announced in a hurry and proper procedure was not followed.
The government admitted that the decision of the new president of WFI is against the rules. The Sports Ministry cited that the newly elected body’s president – Sanjay Kumar Singh – announced on December 21 that the junior national competitions will start before the end of this year. On this, the Ministry said that this decision of the new President of WFI is against the rules and because the wrestlers have to be informed at least 15 days before taking such decisions so that they can make their preparations.
The Sports Ministry further said, “Such decisions are taken by the Executive Committee, before which the agenda is required to be placed for consideration. As per Article XI of the WFI Constitution, it is mandatory to give 15 days notice for the meeting Even for an emergency meeting the minimum notice period is 7 days.
What is government’s allegation
The Sports Ministry also observed that the newly elected body appeared to be completely under the control of the previous office-bearers, against whom allegations of sexual harassment had been leveled. “It appears that the newly elected body is under the control of former office-bearers with complete disregard for the Sports Code,” the ministry said.
The statement further said, “The functioning of the federation is being run from the premises controlled by the former office-bearers. Former officials have been accused of sexual harassment by wrestlers, and the court is currently hearing the case.
Sakshi Malik retired as soon as Sanjay Singh became WFI President. It is noteworthy that as soon as Sanjay Singh became the WFI President, Olympic medalist wrestler Sakshi Malik announced to quit wrestling. While announcing his retirement, he said that Sanjay Singh is close to Brij Bhushan Singh and hence it is useless to expect justice from the new wrestling body. Sakshi Malik is one of the wrestlers who accused Brij Bhushan Sharan of sexual harassment. After the announcement of Sakshi’s retirement, Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist wrestler Bajrang Punia also decided to return the Padma Shri award.
Who is Sanjay Singh?
Sanjay Singh is considered close to BJP MP and former WFI president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh. Sanjay Singh had won the post of president in the elections held on Thursday. His panel had won 13 out of 15 posts. Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association vice-president Sanjay got 40 votes, while his rival and former Commonwealth Games gold medalist Anita Sheoran got only seven votes.
Brij Bhushan said, “I have no relation with Sanjay Singh”
Former WFI president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh met BJP president JP Nadda after the suspension of the wrestling association. Talking to the media after the meeting, he said, “The elections were held on the orders of SC, Sanjay Singh is not my relative, I am a Kshatriya, he is a Bhumihar. The youth’s year would have been wasted, hence a hasty decision was taken, all the federations joined hands to organise this big tournament. Therefore, it was decided to hold the tournament in Nandini Nagar.”
