India: a president of a sports federation, a BJP MP, suspended after accusations of sexual harassment

Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia, left, speaks during a protest against Wrestling Foundation of India Chairman Brij Bhushan Charan Singh and other officials in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. AP - Altaf Qadri

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In India, dozens of athletes from the Wrestling Sports Federation have been fighting for a week against the president of their federation: they accuse him of sexual harassment of several of the wrestlers and are demanding legal action against him.

They have just won a first battle against this very influential executive, who has been sidelined by the government.

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With our correspondent in New Delhi,

For three days in a row, dozens of wrestlers staged a sit-in in central Delhi.

Strong, the face marked by the fights, these men and women, including some Olympic medalists, accused the president of their federation of

on at least five wrestlers, for years.

And they demand the dissolution of this

, accused of complicity.

False accusations according to the accused

A perilous fight, because this president, Brij Bhushan Singh, is also a member of the ruling BJP party, and known for his links with mafia circles.

But faced with the threat of official complaints to the police, the federal government reacted this weekend, by suspending the activities of the federation and its president, and appointing a committee of five athletes, led by a medal-winning boxer.

Its members will investigate the charges, while managing the activities of the federation, and must report back within a month.

The suspended president, meanwhile, denies these accusations and filed a complaint for blackmail and attempted extortion against the wrestlers.

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