As Brij Bhushan Singh’s name gets dragged through mud, his home turf responds

By Abhishek Mishra: BJP MP and Wresting Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s name is being dragged through the mud after he was accused of sexually exploiting women wrestlers. Several wrestlers, including three-time Commonwealth champion Vinesh Phogat and Olympic bronze medallist duo of Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, protested at the Jantar Mantar against the WFI chief.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, meanwhile, has refuted all allegations levelled against him. The BJP MP alleged that the protests are a conspiracy against him by the opposition party.

The BJP MP from Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh is the president of WFI and has been holding the post for over 10 years. A six-time MP, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has represented Gonda, Kaiserganj and Balrampur constituencies.

An India Today team reached Gonda on Thursday and spoke to a few people about the allegations being levelled against the WFI chief.

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Speaking to India Today, Mahendra Singh, a zila panchayat member, claimed the allegations made by the players are false and there is no ground to them. He added, “The WFI chairman has been working hard and the result is evident in the number of medals India has won post 2012. Some people are trying to smear his name and that's why allegations have been made.”

Janki Sharan Dwivedi, a senior journalist, said that Brij Bhushan has been part of different controversies earlier, but always emerged safe. “He has a stronghold in the area and being a continuous Member of Parliament from the region has also made him powerful,” Janki Sharan Dwivedi said.

Speaking to India Today, Dinanath Tripathi, former president of the District Bar Association, said, “The allegations made by the senior wrestlers are quite severe and there should be an enquiry into the whole issue, and everyone should be heard.”

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"This is not the first time that he (Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh) has been involved in a controversy, but his continuous involvement in the federation has made it more important. He must prove his innocence and moreover the association should give its report within 72 hours,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mohit, a wrestler, said, “The allegation is part of a conspiracy against him (Brij Bhushan Singh) and there has never been any issue or disrespectful behaviour towards the sportsman.”

Pehalwan Singh, a coach, said that things have become better in the academy, adding that the questions over Singh's character are not correct.

He has been the key person behind making the wrestling association progressive, Pehalwan Singh said.

ACCUSATIONS AGAINST BRIJ BHUSHAN SINGH

Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and a number of wrestlers have been holding protests against the wrestling body and its chief at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Phogatalleged that the WFI president had been sexually harassing female wrestlers.

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The wrestlers have also alleged that several coaches at the national camp in Lucknow have exploited women wrestlers, prompting the government to constitute a three-member committee to probe the allegations.

The protesting sportspersons are demanding the resignation of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over alleged harassment and molestation of players.

BRIJ BHUSHAN SINGH’S POLITICAL CAREER

Born on January 8, 1956, in Bishnoharpur, Gonda, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh started his career as a student leader from the college in 1979. He joined the BJP for the first time in 1988.

Brij Bhushan, a six-time MP, contested the Lok Sabha elections for the first time in 1991 on a BJP ticket and defeated Anand Singh by a record 1.13 lakh votes. After that, he never looked back. His dominance increased in many districts, including Gonda, Balarampur, Ayodhya. He has never lost an election since 1999. Although his seat kept changing in different elections, the result was in his favour every time.

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Later, he briefly left the BJP due to differences. In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, he won from Kaiserganj on a Samajwadi Party ticket.

However, before the 2014 elections, Brij Bhushan Singh again joined the BJP. After that, he won the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections on a BJP ticket from the Kaiserganj seat. Brij Bhushan's son, Prateek Bhushan, is also in politics and is the BJP MLA from Gonda.

CONTROVERSIES INVOLVING BRIJ BHSUHAN SINGH

Brij Bhushan was among the accused named in the Babri demolition case. However, in September 2020, after a prolonged legal battle, the BJP MP was acquitted of all charges.

Known for his outspoken rhetoric, Singh had earlier threatened to teach a lesson to Raj Thackeray if he entered Ayodhya, at a time when Thackeray's MNS was getting closer to the BJP.

And now, the 66-year-old WFI chief has been accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers.