Govt invites protesting wrestlers for talks; Anurag Thakur tweets post-midnight

New Delhi: The government has invited wrestlers protesting against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for talks on their issues, days after they met Home Minister Amit Shah.

In a tweet post-midnight Tuesday, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said the government was "willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues".

"I have once again invited the wrestlers for the same," he said.

The government is willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues.



I have once again invited the wrestlers for the same.

— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) June 6, 2023

The sports minister had met the wrestlers on January 21 and acted according to their demands.

The wrestlers have been agitating against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a BJP MP, and demanded his arrest. Some women wrestlers have accused him of sexually harassing them, charges he has denied.

Also read: Anurag Thakur assures of fair investigation into wrestlers' allegations

Earlier on Tuesday, the Delhi Police recorded the statements of Singh's associates and those working at his residence in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda as part of the investigation, officials said.

They also said a minor complainant whose statement was the basis of a case registered against Singh under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has recorded a fresh statement under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) section 164.

Protesting wrestlers meet Amit Shah

Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik had met Union Minister Amit Shah on Saturday night to apprise him of their demands.

While the government, reportedly, had shown willingness to accept most of their demands during the Saturday meeting, it did not agree for immediate arrest of the WFI Chief Singh, who the wrestlers have accused of sexual exploitation.

The wrestlers, though, remained adamant on their demand regarding the arrest of Singh, and the meeting remained inconclusive.