"Akadhas are decreasing....": WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over women wrestlers protesting against sexual harassment allegations

Gonda: Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said on Monday that 'akhadas' (traditional Indian gymnasiums) in India are decreasing and parents are pulling away their children, especially girls from the sport of wrestling.
He was speaking to the media in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh on Monday. "Akadhas are getting lesser and parents are stopping their kids from playing, especially girls. There is sadness among wrestlers about the sport which has given us many Olympic medals. The protest should get over, so that wrestling and these children does not continue to face damage," Brij Bhushan said to the media.
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is facing sexual harassment allegations, on Sunday, said he is ready to undergo a polygraph test if the same is conducted on star wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia.
"I am ready for a narco test, polygraph test or lie detector test if the same test of wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia is also conducted along with his test," tweeted Brij Bhushan.
Earlier on Sunday, the BJP MP said he wanted to retire from politics in 2014 but continued after the insistence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
BJP MP from Kaiserganj after reaching Gonda from Delhi, has been meeting people by participating in various programmes in his Lok Sabha constituency. He has been seeking people's support for Chetna Maha rally to be held in Ayodhya on June 5.
"I wanted to retire from politics in 2014 itself. But Amit Shah during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections did not allow me to do that," he said
On the allegations levelled by the wrestlers, Brij Bhushan said that "if someone decided to speak lies then they can do."
Several ace grapplers including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshee Mallik have been protesting at the Jantar Mantar accusing the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment and demanding his arrest.
On May 19, the wrestlers had marched from Jantar Mantar to Bangla Sahib Gurudwara in New Delhi on their 25th day of protest against Brij Bhushan.
Grapplers including Punia, Sakshi, Vinesh and others joined the march demanding the arrest of the WFI chief charged with sexual harassment of athletes.
The protestors have been demanding the registration of an FIR against the WFI chief and his arrest into the allegations of sexual harassment. Two separate FIRs were registered on April 28 following the Supreme Court's notice to Delhi Police into the plea filed by the wrestlers.
Earlier on April 24, The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will be forming an ad-hoc committee to conduct the elections for the Executive Committee of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) within 45 days of its formation, to manage day-to-day affairs of the body, including the selection of athletes and making entries for the participation of players in international events. This committee will be functioning for an interim period till a new Executive Committee takes charge.
Delhi Police has filed a status report on the application moved by woman wrestlers in an alleged offence of sexual offence levelled against WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The court was also informed that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the matter. (ANI)