Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), denied accusations of inappropriately touching the chest and stomach of a wrestler, claiming that he touched his own stomach to demonstrate proper breathing patterns.In a deposition in front of the government-appointed Oversight Committee on the sexual assault allegations on the BJP MP, Brij Bhushan defended his decision of having separate training camps for male and female wrestlers and explained the lack of a sexual harassment committee for wrestlers.Brij Bhushan touched stomach and chest multiple times: WrestlerThe 24-page transcript of Brij Bhushans deposition before the Oversight Committee, led by MC Mary Kom, on February 28, has been released. The transcript has been added as an annexure in the chargesheet filed by Delhi Police on Tuesday.In the transcript, Brij Bhushan is accused by a female wrestler of touching her “stomach and chest 3-4 times and [continuing] to comment on her breathing pattern”.However, he vehemently denied the accusations, saying that he only touched his own stomach to show proper breathing techniques to the wrestler, who he suspected was suffering from reverse breathing pattern.Brij Bhushan said that the event in question happened at a place that he was unable to recall. During a tournament, the wrestler was allegedly making several wrong decisions in a bout, and the WFI President, along with another female wrestler and a coach wondered about the reason.Brij Bhushan said that he told the other wrestler and coach that he thought the reason for the poor decisions was reverse breathing – a breathing technique that reverses the natural in and out movement of the stomach.“So we said her breathing pattern is reverse. Madam, I have been a victim of this. For around 20 years, I couldnt sleep properly. An incident had taken place, my son died by suicide, and I found refuge in yoga. I was told that since my breathing pattern is reverse, I am unable to sleep,” Brij Bhushan told the Committee.”When asked the meaning of reverse breathing by those present with him, he said, “So I placed my hand on my stomach and showed them [the female wrestler and coach] that when we breathe in, the stomach should expand, and contract when we breathe out. Everyone checked their breathing at that moment. When the complainant [name withheld] came, I told her, beta [child], you should join yoga as well.”Brij Bhushan admitted that he questioned a physiotherapist regarding messaging the womans hands 2-3 times a day. “She [physiotherapist] said no. So, I asked the complainant if she checks her breathing while sleeping. However, she laughed. So I came out and said its tough for her to win a medal because she isnt serious,” he said.Brij Bhushan defends separate camps for men and women cites scripturesRegarding the decision to host the womens national camp at the Sports Authority of Indias centre in Lucknow, Brij Bhushan said that in his experience, the camps for men and women should not be held at the same venue..“I did not tell the authorities to hold the camp in Lucknow. I told them that have it on a separate campus or else it will impact their training. Even the parents of the wrestlers told me to split the two camps,” he said.The Committee asked him what his objection was to mixed training camps, considering that men and women train together in akharas as well as abroad.Brij Bhushan fought back at the suggestion, saying, “That [men and women training together] doesnt happen outside. Why dont brothers and sisters sleep together Why do we have womens universities, womens colleges Our scriptures say that brothers and sisters should not stay alone together. Now that we have said this, it has triggered a debate.”Didnt have sexual harassment committee as no one came with complaint: Brij BhushanThe Oversight Committee was asked why the Wrestling Federation did not have a complaints committee to deal with sexual harassment cases as directed by the government. He said that the lack of a committee was because till date, not even one child has come with a complaint.“If any such rule is laid down, saying that a woman should be a part [of the committee], and if we would have known, we would have definitely done it,” he said.The Committee members that such a rule was already in place and an Act to that effect had been passed by the Parliament in 2013, the six-time MP said, “Alright, I accept I have not done what I should have. Will do it in the future… whenever an incident happens, then these topics are raised.”Oversight Committee accused of protecting Brij Bhushan people call for his arrestThe Oversight Committee has come under fire after the chargesheet filed by Delhi Police against the WFI President reiterated many of the accusations that were already known to the Committee. Dr Shama Mohamed, the National Spokesperson of Congress, accused the Oversight Committee of overlooking the serious charges and protecting Brij Bhushan.She posted a message on her official Twitter handle that read, “The Chargesheet filed by @DelhiPolice states that Brij Bhushan Singh was “liable to be prosecuted & punished for offences” The charges included in the chargesheet were the same ones that the Wrestlers had flagged before the oversight panel headed by Mary Kom, yet the committee took no action. Why was Mary Kom heading the panel protecting Singh Under whose instructions”The Chargesheet filed by @DelhiPolice states that Brij Bhushan Singh was “liable to be prosecuted & punished for offences”The charges included in the chargesheet were the same ones that the Wrestlers had flagged before the oversight panel headed by Mary Kom, yet the committee…— Dr. Shama Mohamed (@drshamamohd) July 11, 2023Similar claims were aired by Pawan Khera, Chairman of Congress Media and Publicity Department. He tweeted, “Was the Oversight Committee under instructions to overlook these very serious complaints made by our wrestlers against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh Who at the highest levels has been trying to protect Brij Bhushan and why”▪️Was the Oversight Committee under instructions to overlook these very serious complaints made by our wrestlers against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh ▪️Who at the highest levels has been trying to protect Brij Bhushan and why https://t.co/TENfNQGr7a— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) July 11, 2023Swati Maliwal, the Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, called for Brij Bhushans arrest, saying that his place is in jail, not parliament.#BrijBhushan की जगह जेल में है संसद में नहीं pic.twitter.com/nNd5yz2F4i— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) July 12, 2023Brij Bhushan Singh has been embroiled in a litany of sexual assault allegations by top wrestlers such as Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik. A total of seven female wrestlers, including one minor, have testified against him in an FIR.
