Wrestlers call off protest after assurances from Sports Minister Anurag Thakur

Protesting wrestlers called off their agitation late on Friday night after a marathon 7-hour meeting with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur.

In a joint press conference held by Thakur and the protesting grapplers, Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang Punia announced that they are calling off their protest after assurances from the government.

"The protest is over. We did not want to sit on dharna but 'paani sar se ooper chala gaya tha'. The government has assured us safety and security, we have been threatened by the WFI president in the past also," Bajrang said.

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur confirmed to the press that an oversight committee will be formed that'll investigate the allegations against WFI President Brijbhushan Sharan Singh.

He said, "It has been decided that an oversight committee will be formed, names for which will be announced tomorrow. The committee will complete its investigation within four weeks. It will thoroughly probe all the allegations be it financial or sexual harassment that has been levelled against WFI and its chief."

Thakur also said that Singh will step aside and cooperate with the investigation.

"Till the investigation is over, he (Singh) will step aside and cooperate with the investigation and the oversight committee will run the day-to-day affairs of WFI," Thakur added.

Also read: IOA forms 7-member committee to investigate sexual assault allegations against WFI Chief

(with PTI inputs)