Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Jan 22: The meeting of the Executive Committee and Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), which was scheduled to take place in Ayodhya on Jan 22 has been cancelled.
The decision has come after the Sports Ministry formed an ‘Oversight committee’ on Saturday to investigate the allegations made by some of the wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Anshu Malik and Ravi Kumar Dahiya.
The oversight committee will also investigate the allegations against the WFI and its president, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and will take over the federation’s day-to-day operations until the probe is completed.
“The Ministry of Sports has communicated to the Wrestling Federation of India on Saturday that in view of the Government’s decision to appoint an Oversight Committee to investigate the various allegations raised by athletes against the Federation, WFI will suspend all ongoing activities with immediate effect, unless the Oversight Committee is formally appointed and takes over the day-to-day functioning of WFI,” said the ministry in a statement.
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Moreover, WFI denied claims of sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan. However, he has been ordered to step aside from the post until the probe is completed and recluse himself from daily activities.
Meanwhile, the federation has clarified that Brij Bhushan is neither suspended nor terminated. He continues to remain a president who has reclused himself from duty.
Notably, the wrestlers have agreed to end their protest after a meeting with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and getting assurance of a detailed probe into the allegations.