Threatening to start their protest again, the Olympic wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia on Wednesday claimed that the national federation chief Sanjay Singh utilised deceitful tactics to lift the suspension on WFI.
On Tuesday, the UWW lifted India's provisional suspension but requested written assurances from the national federation that there would be no discriminatory actions against the protesting trio: Punia, Malik, and Vinesh Phogat.
"We came to know yesterday that Sanjay Singh had done some setting with UWW to get the suspension lifted. Brij Bhushan and Sanjay Singh have left no stone unturned to show that they are above the law," said Sakshi in a video posted on 'X'.
The suspension was initially imposed by the UWW in August last year due to the WFI's failure to conduct timely elections.
For over a year, Punia, Malik, and Phogat have been engaged in protests, advocating for the arrest of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment against female wrestlers.
Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, when asked about the latest developments on the sidelines of the Chess Olympiad Torch hand-off ceremony here, said, "We will let you know what we will do." Sakshi stressed that if the BJP MP's loyalists are allowed to run the affairs of the WFI, the protesting wrestlers will be left with no choice but to restart the agitation.
"Our protest has only been suspended. I might have retired from wrestling but I not will tolerate Brij Bhushan or his people running the federation and harassing women," she asserted.
"In the next 2-4 days, we will contact the people associated with our agitation and chalk out the future course of action. I urge the government (to ensure) that Brij Bhushan or his group are barred forever from (running) the federation and that some good people are entrusted with the task of doing the job. Otherwise, we will have to restart the path of protest," warned Sakshi.
Punia echoed the sentiment in his video message on the same platform.
"Just 2-3 days back, Brij Bhushan's son became the president of the UP wrestling body despite him saying saying no one from his family will come into wrestling administration. The government had promised that Brij Bhushan or anyone of his relatives or associates will not govern the sport," Punia said.
Brij Bhushasionn has stated repeatedly that he has nothing to do with wrestling after completing his tenure as WFI president.
During the December elections, his loyalist Sanjay Singh was elected president, but within three days of taking charge, the sports ministry suspended the WFI for violating its constitution by announcing the dates of the age-group nationals at short notice.
Sakshi also alleged that the Sanjay Singh-led WFI had misused the federation's funds by conducting parallel nationals.
"The (IOA-constituted) ad-hoc committee conducted the senior nationals in a very professional manner (in Jaipur earlier this month). We welcomed that. Brij Bhushan and Sanjay Singh started breaking all the rules by conducting parallel nationals (in Pune) and threatening the coaches and referees and misusing the federation's money," she said.
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