New Delhi: Top Indian wrestlers on Sunday dismissed allegations that they were vying to take control over the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) even as its chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said that the opposition parties were ‘tutoring’ the players. Speaking to reporters, double World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat said that the WFI president’s charge that they are involved in politics is baseless. Singh, who is in the eye of a storm after the grapplers levelled sexual harassment charges against him and demanded his arrest as well as ouster from the WFI, on Sunday had claimed that the wrestlers want to take over the WFI and that only one family — the Phogats — is behind the protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

“We are not involved in any politics. We speak straight from the heart and it connects, and that is why so many people are sitting here in our support,” Vinesh Phogat said.

She alleged that Singh is being ‘felicitated’ despite ‘exploiting’ women athletes. 

“I ask how can you give such a criminal a platform? Ask yourself… That man is still saying things with a smile on his face. His ego is bigger than the Ravana (in epic Ramayana),” she said.

The protesting wrestlers, who first levelled allegations of sexual harassment against Singh in January, had resumed their sit-in on April 23 to demand that the findings of the Centre-appointed panel that probed the charges be made public.

The wrestlers have complained of non-cooperation from authorities whom they have accused of cutting power and water supply during the night.

The Delhi Police had on Friday filed two FIRs, including one under the POCSO Act, against Singh, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP, who has completed 12 years as WFI President.

Brij Bhushan claims Bajrang Punia, Congress’ Deepender Hooda hatched plot

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Sunday alleged that Congress leader Deepender Hooda and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist grappler Bajrang Punia have hatched the conspiracy against him. 

Interacting with reporters at his residence in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district, Singh said, “This whole conspiracy was hatched by Congress leader Deepender Hooda and wrestler Bajrang Punia. We have an audio (clip) to prove this. When the time comes, it will be handed over to the Delhi Police.”

Singh, who has till now remained defiant about not quitting his post, said that he was ready to resign if it would make the protesters go back home.