Vinesh Phogat and other wrestlers called off the protest on Saturday.© NDTV
After getting assurances that their grievances would be addressed, wrestlers called off their protest following the second round of meeting with union sports minister Anurag Thakur that ended after midnight on Saturday. The minister assured the wrestlers, which included big names like Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat, among others that investigation with regards to their allegations of sexual misconduct against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) coaches and president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will be completed in four weeks. An oversight committee will be formed to investigate the allegations, Thakur added. WFI chief Brij Bhushan will step aside till the time the oversight committee completes its investigation.
“The wrestlers put forward their demands. I have assured them about steps that will be taken against the federation. An oversight committee will be formed. All investigations will be completed in four weeks. All allegations sexual harassment and financial misappropriation will be probed,” Thakur said in a press conference on Saturday. “Brij Bhushan will step aside for four weeks. He will co-operate in investigation.”
Wrestler Bajrang Punia, who has been a leading figure in the protest, thanked Thakur for his prompt response. “We have received assurances from the respected minister. I thank you. We protested only as a last resort. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has really helped our game,” Punia said.
More updates to follow.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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