New Delhi: Just three days after Sanjay Singh was elected president in the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections, the Union Sports ministry suspended the new body.
The Sports ministry asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to form a temporary panel to run the WFI, including selection of athletes.
It’s a slap on former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who had rejoiced at his close aide Sanjay’s victory and said that none will support protesting wrestlers like Olympic medal-winning duo Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia.
While Sakshi announced retirement from the sport soon after election results were declared, Bajrang wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that he was returning his Padma Shri award.
Explaining its decision, the Sports ministry said on Sunday that the new WFI body — under the leadership of Sanjay — showed complete disregard for existing rules and regulations.
Specifically, the Sports ministry pointed out that the announcement of national competitions was hasty, without due process being followed.
Within moments of being declared winner over rival Anita Sheoran by a margin of 40-7, Sanjay announced that the Junior National competition will begin before the end of this year.
The Sports ministry said this was against rules as at least a 15-day notice has to be given.
“Such decisions (holding nationals) are to be taken by Executive Committee, before which agendas are required to be placed for consideration. As per Article XI of the WFI constitution under the Heading ‘Notices and Quorum for Meetings’, minimum notice period for EC meeting is 15 clear days and quorum is of 1/3rd of representatives. Even for Emergency EC meeting, minimum notice period is 7 clear days with quorum requirement of 1/3rd of representatives,” the Union ministry said in a press release.
In a scathing comment, the ministry also said that the new body appeared to be in complete control of the previous office-bearers, against whom allegations of sexual harassment were made.
“Newly elected body appears to be in complete control of former office bearers in complete disregard to the Sports Code,” the ministry said.
“The business of the Federation is being run from the premises controlled by former office-bearers. Which is also the alleged premises wherein sexual harassment of the players have been alleged and present the court is hearing the matter,” it added.
“The decisions made by the newly-elected executive body of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) demonstrate a blatant disregard for the established legal and procedural norms, violating both the WFI’s constitutional provisions and the National Sports Development Code,” the ministry stated.
“The actions smack of complete arbitrariness on part of the President, which is against the settled principles of good governance and devoid of transparency and due process. Adherence to governance norms is vital for ensuring fair play, transparency and accountability. There are crucial to built trust among athletes, stakeholders, and the public,” the statement concluded.
Brij Bhushan, a BJP Member of Parliament who had to resign as WFI president amid charges of sexual harassment brought against him by 7 female wrestlers, met BJP president JP Nadda after the government suspended WFI.
Defending his stronghold Nandini Nagar being chosen as Junior nationals, Brij Bhushan said the previous committee had decided to organise U-15 and U-20 Nationals, and all 25 regional wrestling bodies had agreed to the proposal.
He asserted that all further decisions will be taken by the new leadership, adding that he has taken ‘sanyas’ (retirement) from wrestling and that he would be busy with upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
“Lok Sabha 2024 elections are coming up and I will have a lot of work,” the six-time MP said.
Sanjay’s camp is learnt to be mulling going to court against Sports ministry’s decision.
“We are getting ready to take up this matter legally and counter the decision of suspension.. our legal team is working on it,” sources told India Today.
