Want justice for wrestlers, but after due process of law: Sports Minister Anurag Thakur
The Hindu
Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said the Delhi Police is expected to file a chargesheet soon in the case of sexual harrasment of wrestlers
Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday said everyone wants justice to be delivered to the wrestlers demanding action against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, but it will happen only after following the due process of law.
Mr. Thakur's remarks came days after the country's top wrestlers, protesting for more than a month over allegations of sexual harassment against Singh, threatened to immerse their medals in the Ganga river in Haridwar.
EDITORIAL | Wrestling for justice: On the protest by the wrestlers
"The government favours an unbiased investigation.... All of us want justice to be delivered, but it will happen after following the due process," Mr. Thakur said in an interactive session at the India Economic Conclave organised by the Times Network.
The Minister said the Delhi Police is investigating the case, which was filed after a government-appointed committee submitted a report on the allegations against Singh, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP.
"There is no question of bias," Mr. Thakur said to suggestions that the delay in action was because Singh was a Lok Sabha member of the ruling party at the Centre.
The Minister said the Delhi Police is expected to file a chargesheet in the matter soon. "All of us are in favour of a speedy investigation," he added.
More than 2.6 lakh village and ward volunteers in Andhra Pradesh, once celebrated as the government’s grassroots champions for their crucial role in implementing welfare schemes, are now in a dilemma after learning that their tenure has not been renewed after August 2023 even though they have been paid honoraria till June 2024. Disowned by both YSRCP, which was in power when they were appointed, and the current ruling TDP, which made a poll promise to double their pay, these former volunteers are ruing the day they signed up for the role which they don’t know if even still exists