Delhi police chargesheet on Brij Bhushan Singh exposes failure of oversight committee formed by Modi govt, says Congress

 If this government has even an iota of morality, they should not protect Brij Bhushan now: Supriya Shrinate

Wrestlers wear black bands at a protest against the outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, at Jantar Mantar on May 11.(PTI picture)

TT, New Delhi, 12.07.23 : The Congress has said the Delhi police’s chargesheet against BJP parliamentarian Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has exposed the failure of the oversight committee that the Narendra Modi government had formed to help provide justice to the women wrestlers who have accused him of sexual harassment.

The party wondered whether the intention behind forming the committee was to protect Singh, the outgoing Wrestling Federation of India president, and not his accusers.

“The Delhi police have filed the chargesheet on the basis of evidence and allegations made by some of India’s most decorated athletes, referees, coaches and other vendors,” Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said.

“They have filed serious charges of sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, molestation and stalking against the BJP MP who is also the (national) wrestling federation chief. The chargesheet invokes Section 506: criminal intimidation, Section 354: outraging modesty of women, Section 354: sexual harassment, Section 354D: stalking.”

Shrinate added: “It is, however, indeed very, very ironical that the chargesheet is based on exactly the same allegations that were raised before the six-member oversight committee headed by Mary Kom (and) set up by the government.

“In February 2023, players, athletes, coaches and referees were summoned by this committee. They made allegations of sexual exploitation, sexual harassment against the wrestling federation chief.

“In April 2023, when the oversight committee submitted its report, it may have raised questions (about) the functioning of the federation, but kept absolutely quiet on allegations of sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation…. (It) did not raise any red flags and did not even recommend a police probe.”

Shrinate said that top wrestlers such as Sakshi Malik, Vineet Phogat, Bajrang Punia and others had been compelled to resume their protest because of the committee’s stand.

“The wrestlers said they had no faith in the committee. They were abused, dragged and mercilessly beaten up by police. When the wrestlers decided to throw their medals in the Ganga, the government didn’t even make an appeal to them.

“Will the government continue to remain quiet? Will the women and child development minister, Smriti Irani, only speak when she has to spew venom on Rahul Gandhi? Will sports minister Anurag ‘Goli Maro’ Thakur come out in the open and say a word (in) solidarity with the athletes?”

Shrinate said the case represented a test for the government and the BJP.

“I also think about the moral bankruptcy of this government, of the Prime Minister, of the home minister, of the BJP and its chief J.P. Nadda,” she said.

“Will Brij Bhushan continue to be a member of Parliament? And will the BJP continue to offer political patronage, protection, and support to the perpetrator of the crime instead of giving support to the victimised women?

“Will the Prime Minister speak up and remove his MP, charged with serious offences? If this government has even an iota of morality, they should not protect Brij Bhushan now.”

Asked about the possible reasons for the government’s inaction against Singh, Shrinate said: “There could be only two reasons – either the morality of the government is dead or the tussle between (Union home minister) Amit Shah and (Uttar Pradesh chief minister) Yogi Adityanath is a factor.

“If there was any morality in this government, the father of a person who mowed down farmers would not have been a minister in the central government. If there was any morality in this government, an MP accused of sexual exploitation would not have publicly declared that he enjoys the Prime Minister’s blessings.”