Wrestlers give June 15 deadline to govt to conclude investigation

New Delhi: After a six-hour-long meeting between wrestlers and sports minister Anurag Thakur, the government is learned to have sought time till June 15 to complete the investigation into sexual harassment charges against former WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Addressing the media after the marathon meeting, Thakur said, "I had a long 6-hour discussion with the wrestlers. We have assured wrestlers that the probe will be completed by June 15 and chargesheets will be submitted. The election of WFI will be done by June 30."

The meeting was called upon by Thakur to break the deadlock as the wrestlers have been adamant that they will continue their agitation till Singh, who they have accused of sexual harassment, is arrested.

"The government has sought time till June 15 for the investigation to conclude. The protest is not over yet," said wrestler Sakshi Malik after meeting with Thakur on Wednesday.

"We will not stage any protest till June 15," Malik added. "The Delhi Police will withdraw FIRs filed on May 28 against wrestlers."

The wrestlers had resumed their protest against Singh and the national federation on April 23 at Jantar Mantar.

They were removed from the protest site on May 28 when the police detained them for violation of law and order after they began their march to the new Parliament building without permission.

Bajrag Punia said that the wrestlers have suspended protest only till June 15 adding that the movement is not over yet.

Vinesh Phogat, a prominent face of the protest, did not attending the meeting as she is in her village Balali in Haryana to attend a pre-scheduled 'panchayat'.

Punia, Rio Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik and her wrestler husband Satyawart Kadiyan, met the minister at his residence.

Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait, who has been supporting the wrestlers in their protest, was not part of the meeting.

It was the second round of meeting between the government and protesting wrestlers in a space of five days.

The wrestlers had met Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday night and apprised him of their demands.

While the government is willing to accept most of their demands, the arrest of Singh, who is also a BJP MP, remains the bone of contention.

The wrestlers had also resumed their duties with the Northern Railways, last week. Sakshi Malik and Punia are attached with Railways as OSD.