‘Not Guilty, Won’t Resign As A Criminal,’ Says Wrestling Body Chief

Pic courtesy ANI

“Their (wrestlers) demands are constantly changing. They first asked for my resignation as the federation chief, I said that would mean accepting the charges against me. Resignation is no big deal, but I won’t do it as a criminal. I am not a criminal,” he said, adding that it’s not a tough time for him as he has always faced difficulties.

In a show of strength, the wrestling body chief, who is also a BJP MP, appeared defiant during a show of strength on his home turf in Uttar Pradesh. Garlanded and surrounded by supporters in the Gonda district, Singh said he hasn’t yet received a copy of the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Delhi Police after complaints of sexual harassment against him by several women wrestlers. Singh also stressed that his party had nothing to do with the case, and it was his job to counter the allegations.

“I have not yet received the FIR copy. I will speak once I’ve received the FIR copy,” he was quoted as saying.

Singh told reporters on Friday that the wrestlers should have waited for the report of a committee that was tasked to look into the matter before they decided to sit on a protest in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. “I am happy with the judiciary’s decision. The Delhi Police will investigate the allegations, and I am ready to cooperate with them in every possible way. No one is bigger than the judiciary in this country. The order has come to file an FIR (first information report). The government had also said it had no objection to filing an FIR. I am not bigger than the Supreme Court. I welcome the order,” Singh told reporters.

BJP MLAs flocked to Brij Bhushan Singh’s residence in Gonda. Calling the allegations against him ‘baseless’, they said it was a conspiracy of the Congress and “some industrialists” against the ruling party.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met protesting wrestlers at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar to express solidarity with their demand. The Congress general secretary hit out at the Delhi Police for not providing a copy of the FIR filed against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Top Aam Aadmi Party leaders have also visited the protest site and offered solidarity to the wrestlers. Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal will visit them this evening.