Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Chief Brij Bhushan Singh who is facing sexual harassment charges by top female wrestlers, claimed that 90 per cent of the athletes and their guardians from Haryana trust the organisation, while only one wrestling family continues to protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
"A few families & the girls who have levelled allegations belonged to the same 'akhada'...The patron of that 'akhada' is Deepender Hooda," he reportedly said.
"...You don't get justice from Jantar Mantar. If you want justice, you have to go to the Police, Court. They never did that until now. We will accept whatever the court decides..," Singh added.
When the reporters asked him why Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party chief and opposition leader in Uttar Pradesh, also Brij Bhushan Singh's home state, stayed away from the issue and didn't go to the protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar in Delhi even when several Opposition leaders did, he said Mr Yadav "knows the truth".
"Akhilesh Yadav knows the truth. We know each other since childhood. 80 per cent of the wrestlers in Uttar Pradesh belong to families with Samajwadi Party ideology. They call me 'Netaji'. They say how their Netaji is," he said.
The country's top wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, have been protesting since April 23, demanding criminal action against Singh for alleged sexual harassment and intimidation of seven wrestlers including a minor. The protestors have been sleeping and training at the protest site in Jantar Mantar.
A FIR has also been filed against the BJP MP. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police is reportedly extending support to the protesting wrestlers.
Political support has also poured in with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal visiting the protest site to extend their solidarity. The Congress general secretary accused the government of "protecting" Singh, who has been involved in several other serious criminal cases according to his election affidavit and is considered a 'Bahubali' (muscle man) from Gonda and nearby districts of Uttar Pradesh.
(With inputs from PTI)
