'Instead Of Ganga Ji, Gave Their Medals To Tikait': Brij Bhushan On Wrestlers' Seeking 5 Days Ultimatum

Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan questioned why the wrestlers' have been protesting on the roads when the investigation is going on. He also reportedly claimed that there is no more question of resignation as his tenure is over and an election will be held.

Outlook Web Desk

Updated on: 31 May 2023 4:21 am

The wrestlers 15-day ultimatum of arresting Brij Bhushan ended on Sunday.

The protesting wrestlers had gone to Haridwar to immerse their medals in the River Ganga as a sign of protest against the treatment of the police and the Indian government towards them.

Farmer leader Naresh Tikait intervened and suggested that they seek five more days for the government to solve the issue of sexual harassment against the Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan, his arrest and removal from the organisation.

According to reports, Naresh Tikait said, "They are our daughters, our family. We won't let them down", he also called for a khap meeting today reportedly.

#WATCH | "Entire Indian govt is saving one man (WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh). There will be a Khap meeting tomorrow," says Farmer leader Naresh Tikait who intervened and asked protesting wrestlers not to immerse their medals while seeking five days time#WrestlersProtest pic.twitter.com/3xm10VPQg7
— ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2023

To this stance by the wrestlers, the WFI chief reacted by reportedly saying, "The wrestlers went to immerse their medals in Ganga ji. But instead of Ganga ji, they gave their medal to (Rakesh) Tikait. That is their stand. What can we do?”

Indian wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Sangeeta Phogat and Bajrang Punia have been a part of the protests since the beginning and were manhandled by the police on May 28 when they tried to march towards the new Parliament building. Their protest site in Jantar Mantar has been removed and an FIR was filed against them by the Delhi Police.

On the matter of Brij Bhushan's removal from WFI, he told the media after the recent protests and wrestlers' decision to immerse the medals, "Now, there is no question of resignation. Now my tenure is over and an election will be held.”

He added, "Let them investigate and see what happens in the future. Nothing is now in our hands. Everything has been left to the Delhi Police.”

Questioning the wrestlers' whole protests since April, Bhushan reportedly also said, "Why these people are doing this, only they can answer this question. An oversight committee was formed, an FIR was done on their request, and now the investigation is going on.”

He reportedly kept reiterating, "If I am found to be in the wrong, then I will be arrested. I have no problem with that.” There are two FIRs filed against the Bharatiya Janata Party leader regarding the sexual harassment case.