The minimum of three wrestlers who testified before the official Oversight Committee looking into their complaints of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India President and BJP MP Brij Sharan Singh complained about the panel's behaviour. One wrestler who spoke before the committee stated they wanted us to finish up quickly. They preferred to hear our words with one ear and let them out with the other.
The Indian Express claims that the committee requested "audio or video" evidence of the Ill-treatment of all three wrestlers. Singh was like a father figure, said a committee member to one of the wrestlers. The acts of his were done in all innocence and misconstrued by us Another complained that it was intimidating that WFI employees and a coach close to Singh had gathered outside the room.
Mary Kom (boxer) is the committee chairperson. Although it gave the government its findings, it was not been released to the public. Singh was also accused of touching women's breasts and other areas pretending to check their breathing. One woman even claimed he "lifted her jersey." Seven reports of sexual harassment were reported to the police, including a juvenile.
According to a story in The Indian Express, two wrestlers alleged anomalies in the committee's operation in a police complaint. The committee repeatedly turned off the video recording while testifying: they said.
When women were required to attend individually at the hearing, some women felt uneasy. So they decided to ride together next time, one wrestler told the publication. Another said that when the committee members discovered the device, it was not recording because it was not switch on in the first place, they asked her to repeat how Singh had harassed her sexually.
They (the Oversight Committee) tried to push us along quickly. They seemed to want us to quickly wrap things up while listening to what we said through one ear and letting it pass through the other. We were told to proceed before a statement was made. We didn't feel comfortable appearing in front of the committee since they didn't try to comprehend our emotional condition, according to the third wrestler who spoke to The Indian Express.
The requirement for evidence angered wrestlers. One wrestler reported to The Indian Express that they asked us if we had video or audio proof. Then they said, "What can we do without proof?". When you go through it, you can't breathe. I identified the woman who can document instances of sexual harassment.
Delhi Police and the administration both failed to respond to wrestlers' complaints. Anurag Thakur, Union Sports Minister, was accused of involvement in a "hush job" by wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who has been at the forefront of the protest.
The deadline for Singh's arrest has been set for May 21 by a 31-member committee appointed to counsel the protesting wrestlers. The protesters stated they would make a "significant decision" if that did not occur.
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