New Delhi: Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur for the first time on Thursday reacted to the strike by the wrestlers at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. He said that if some players are sitting at Jantar Mantar today, who talked to them? I sat with them for 12 hours, listened to them, and formed a committee, we wanted a fair probe. On their request, Babita Phogat was included in the committee. Everyone was given a chance to keep their point of view.

The Union Minister said that anyone can register an FIR at any police station. Police said that they will take further action after a preliminary investigation. The Modi government has always stood with the players. Sports is a priority for us, with which we will not compromise.

Many wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, have again started a sit-in demonstration at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on 23 April. Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik are also involved in the strike. Earlier in January, the wrestlers demonstrated. It is alleged that seven women wrestlers had filed sexual harassment complaints against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh at the Connaught Place police station in central Delhi. But the case has not been registered yet.

At present, the Sports Ministry has banned the election of the wrestling association. The matter has now reached the Supreme Court. Khap panchayats have also extended support to the wrestlers.

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