India's wrestling scene is currently embroiled in a chaotic predicament, as the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) continues to clash with several premier wrestlers. The ongoing protests by wrestlers in India is a complex issue with various characters playing their roles. Typically, a conflict is characterized by two opposing sides. Yet what if I were to tell you that the ongoing struggle comprises a multifaceted face-off amongst three dissimilar groups? Brij Bhushan Singh, the reigning head of WFI, finds himself mired in a scandalous situation. He has been alleged to have indulged in reprehensible behavior such as perpetrating sexual harassment towards women wrestlers and displaying partiality against those belonging to the Haryana region. Standing tall against him are some of the country’s top wrestlers like Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Vinesh Phogat. Now the third side involved happens to be Deependra Huda, a congress lawmaker and the former president of the Haryana Wrestling Federation.
The inception of this demonstration took root roughly 144 months ago in the year 2011 when Dushyant Sharma - a grappling athlete hailing from Jammu and Kashmir - was voted into office as the president of the WFI. The challenge to the election in question came from none other than Haryana Wrestling Federation which prompted intervention by Delhi High Court that demanded re-election be held posthaste. Deepender Huda was vying for the presidency of the WFI but eventually withdrew his candidacy in favour of Brij Bhushan Singh, who was backed by the Samajwadi Party. Given the fact that the Congress government was in power at the time with the help of Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party, Ahmed Patel couldn’t refuse Yadav’s request to ask Huda to withdraw his nomination. Hence, with Mulayam Singh Yadav's help, Singh won the presidency unanimously, leading to tensions between the WFI and Deependra Hooda who later became the President of the Haryana Wrestling Federation. Consequently, the genesis of friction between the Haryana Wrestling Federation and WFI came into existence.
Deependra Huda before joining the protest with the wrestlers in Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
Several controversies have taken place between the WFI. and the Haryana Wrestling Federation. The first significant controversy between the two federations occurred in 2016, right before the Rio Olympics. Hailing from the Indian state of Haryana, Sushil Kumar aimed to compete in the Olympics. Nevertheless, officials representing WFI expressed interest in selecting Narsingh Yadav - a talented wrestler born and raised within Uttar Pradesh's borders for this prestigious event. The issue at hand ensued to the esteemed High Court, which ultimately granted a verdict in favour of Yadav. However, Yadav failed a dope test and was suspended, blaming Kumar and the Haryana Federation for adulterating his food.
The disputes between the WFI and Haryana wrestlers increased when the WFI introduced new selection rules in November 2021. Under the new rules, all wrestlers had to play in nationals and go through trials regardless of whether they were medal holders or not. But the biggest cause of dispute set in when the WFI fixed quotas for wrestlers from every state, a move that the Haryana Federation heavily opposed. The tensions between the WFI and Haryana Federation came to a head in June 2022, resulting in the dissolution of the Haryana Federation and the removal of Deependra Hooda from his position as President. A new President, Rohtas, was appointed in his place. Meanwhile, wrestlers like Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, and Sakshi Malik opposed the new selection rules. They did not participate in the National Games in Gujarat or the selection trial in New Delhi in December 2022. In response, the WFI made it clear that only those who participated in the selection trial would be considered for the Asian Games, effectively almost ending the careers of Punia, Phogat, and Malik.
Now, according to the rules, one cannot become the WFI president for 4 consecutive terms, so after being the WFI president for 3 consecutive terms, Singh announced that his son would take his place as the next WFI President. This decision shattered the hopes of Deependra Huda who was aspiring to become the WFI President. Until now Punia, Phogat, and Malik along with other major wrestlers from Haryana were still processing the new selection rules when they heard about the announcement. This made for an excellent opportunity for both factions to fight for their causes against 'one common enemy'. However, we should also not overlook the notorious past of Brij Bhushan Singh. According to reports, Singh was acquitted in over 30 criminal cases, a sum of 17 criminal matters logged within Ayodhya itself, plus an additional 12 in Faizabad, not omitting 8 more in Nawabganj, as well as a sole such incident even transpiring in Delhi. The cases were registered under several sections of IPC which even included murder, and attempt to murder, and under the UP Gangsters Act, and Arms Act among others. Singh was booked four times under UP Gangster Act till 1993. Interestingly in 2004 while fighting on a ticket for BJP, Ghanshyam Shukla, his competitor died on the very same day of Polling. Singh has also confessed in an interview of murdering a man with his own hands.
Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia during the protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh at the Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.
The protesting wrestlers have also leveled various accusations against Brij Bhushan Singh. Some of the key allegations made by the protesting wrestlers against Brij Bhushan Singh are -
- Sexual Harassment- There has been a total of seven female wrestlers who have individually reported to the police against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is both a BJP MP and Wrestling Federation president for India.
- Lack of Transparency- Transparency in the selection process is a significant concern raised by the protesting wrestlers. They alleged that decisions regarding team selections, tournament entries, and training camps are often made without clear criteria or justification, leaving room for arbitrary and unfair choices.
- Limited Athlete Representation: The protesting wrestlers argue that the decision-making process within the WFI does not adequately involve or represent the athletes.
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the man in focus and also the incumbent WFI President.
Currently, the Home Ministry has instructed Delhi Police to file 2 FIRs against the WFI President based on the allegations against him including that of sexually harassing a minor. Interestingly Singh has also claimed that he has an audio clip that can prove the link between Deependra Huda and the protesting wrestlers. This protest also holds a vital place in the upcoming Haryana and Rajasthan elections as the JATs are the kingmakers in the following states due to their substantial population.
Irrespective of what’s going on currently, the ongoing disputes between the wrestlers and the Wrestling Federation of India are a complex issue involving political affiliations, power dynamics, and transparency. This entire fiasco has also shed light on the complexities and challenges surrounding the selection process in sports. On the one hand, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has implemented new selection rules to promote transparency and provide equal opportunities to all wrestlers across the country. These rules ensure that every wrestler, regardless of their previous achievements, participates in nationals and trials, contributing to a fair selection process. On the other hand, the protesting wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, and Sakshi Malik, have raised valid concerns regarding the impact of these rules on their individual aspirations and the dominance of certain states in the wrestling arena. Their dissent highlights the need for a comprehensive dialogue and a collaborative effort between the WFI and the wrestlers to address these concerns and find a balanced solution that upholds fairness and the spirit of healthy competition. While the charges levied on the WFI President are serious and should be thoroughly investigated, at the same time the timing of the events and the entire involvement of Deependra Huda along with other political parties definitely signifies that there is something more to this matter as well.