“It Is A Matter Of Satisfaction That Probe Against Brij Bhushan Has Begun,” Sharad Pawar

Sharad Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief, said on Wednesday that he is impressed that an investigation into Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the Wrestling Federation of India chief who is facing sexual harassment allegations from some female wrestlers, has begun.

Pawar told reporters here that the protesting wrestlers want Singh arrested, while the government says it will conduct an investigation first and then make a decision.

“It is a matter of satisfaction that the probe has begun,” he added.

The wrestlers have been protesting against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and asking for his takedown. Singh has been accused of sexually harassing some female wrestlers. The BJP official has refuted the accusations.

Days after they met with Home Minister Amit Shah, the government invited wrestlers who are protesting Singh to a meeting to discuss their concerns.

In a tweet post-midnight Tuesday, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said the government was “willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues.”

Earlier, the Delhi Police recorded the statements of Singh’s associates and those working at his residence in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda as part of the investigation, officials said.

They added that a minor complainant who provided the information used to file a case against Singh under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act has provided new information pursuant to section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

Meanwhile, asked about reports of some NCP leaders planning to join Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS), Pawar said, “It is not a matter of worry for us.”

On BRS trying to make inroads into Maharashtra, the NCP president said, “The coming of BRS cannot be ignored. We will see what they can do in Maharashtra.”

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