Although there were technical reasons for the suspension, it is obvious that the government did not want to be associated with or appear to be in support of the recently elected assembly.
The majority of the newly elected officials, including Sanjay Kumar Singh, the president, are close friends of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former president of WFI, who is accused of sexual harassment. The election turned into yet another contentious topic, and the results sparked demonstrations. Wrestler Sakshi Malik declared her resignation from the sport in desperation, and Bajrang Punia gave back his Padma Shri.
Source: India Today
The public perception seemed to be growing that the government was not prepared to take any action against Brij Bhushan Singh and was actually assisting him in further entrenching himself, so it is likely that the government did not want the controversy to escalate and the protests to intensify in Haryana and the northern states that are critical for the BJP as elections approach.
Therefore, the government has suspended the new body on the pretext that Sanjay Kumar Singh announced that junior national championships would be conducted in Gonda, the hometown of Brij Bhushan Singh. The decision was deemed to be against protocol since it was made without consulting Prem Chand Lochab, the recently elected secretary general.
Additionally, it was brought to light that the WFI was still conducting business out of “the premises controlled by former office-bearers, the alleged premises wherein sexual harassment of players has been alleged.” The government has a chance to clean up the WFI establishment because the new body is suspended. The wrestlers who are protesting have also praised the government’s choice.
Source: NDTV
However, the handling of the WFI election should not be reduced to a political manoeuvre, nor should it serve to divert attention from the main concern, which is the allegations of sexual misconduct against Brij Bhushan Singh, or assist the BJP MP in avoiding the legal system.
Unsettlingly, several voices—including Sanjay Singh’s—have expressed the opinion that since Brij Bhushan Singh declared he was “done with wrestling” and would be concentrating on the Lok Sabha elections, things should be left to rest.
The misgovernance in the WFI is a different and subsidiary issue from the main wrongdoing that the wrestlers brought up. The charges against him have not been thoroughly investigated by the Delhi Police. The Supreme Court was the only authority upon which a FIR was lodged. The inquiry is still moving slowly. More importantly, the lawsuit against Brij Bhushan Singh needs to be won by law and justice, even though the government should correct the WFI management.
What do you think about this? Comment below.
