Delhi Police takes wrestler Sangeeta to WFI chief Brij Bhushan's residence

PTI

New Delhi

Delhi Police on Friday took wrestler Sangeeta Phogat to outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's official residence here to recreate the sequence of events that led to the sexual harassment of which he has been accused. Phogat was accompanied by women constables. "At 1.30 pm women officers took Sangeeta Phogat to Brij Bhushan's official residence in Delhi. They were there for half an hour. They asked her to recreate scene and recall places where she faced harassment," sources said. The Delhi Police's SIT probing sexual harassment allegations against is likely to submit in court its probe report by next week.

‘WAS ANGRY BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER LOST’

BJP MP and WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh arrives amid the controversy of sexual harassment allegations levelled by the medal-winning wrestlers, in New Delhi on Friday. PTI

HAVE SEEN BRIJ BHUSHAN’S INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR, SAYS INT’L REFEREE JAGBIR

International referee Jagbir Singh claimed that he has been a witness to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s inappropriate behaviour towards female grapplers on several occasions since 2013. Jagbir, who has been a coach-cum-international referee since 2007, said he witnessed Brij Bhushan’s misbehaviour with his own eyes on numerous occasions. “In 2022, I witnessed something. Whenever the president used to travel inside the country for national tournaments, two to three girls were always with him but we could never protest. We have seen that with our eyes.” Jagbir, in fact, has corroborated the protesting wrestler’s allegations in his testimony to Delhi Police.

The father of a minor wrestler said that he deliberately filed a false police plaint of sexual harassment against WFI chief because he wanted to get back at official for a perceived injustice against girl. The startling admission by father substantially weakens case against Brij Bhushan who has faced relentless protests for past six months by top Indian wrestlers over allegations of sexual harassment of women competitors. The complaint by minor wrestler has also led to investigation under POCSO Act.

‘Municipal Bonds, a good way to strengthen municipal bodies’

IFirst India Bureau Jaipur AS Of Rajasthan origin and Gujarat cadre, Shalini Agrawal’ s Book “All About Municipal Bonds’ getting huge response as American Treasury Department and World Bank will promote it as a ‘toolkit.’

Even NITI Aayog sent this book to all State governments and UT’s and had written that municipal bond is a good way to strengthen the municipal bodies.In an exclusive interview with our Senior Special Reporter Dr Rituraj Sharma, Shalini speaks about the idea behind the book... z First of all, congratulations Madam. What is the municipal bonds and how this idea comes to your mind ?

Actually PM Modi asked the all Municipal corporations to issue municipal bond for their economic sustainability. So, Baroda Municipality takes initiative to issue Rs 100 crore bond which get 1,007 crore subscription and it was one of the highest over subscribed bond and has lowest coupon rate 7.15%( rate in which corporations taken money from market). This was mainly due to Baroda’s credit rating of AA plus. Due to this, Baroda able to complete the water supply project, which was inaugurated by PM Modi. In this project, US Treasury Dept was technical advisor and it suggested for documentation and

PM has also appreciated this project and then NITI Aayog had written a letter to state government and UT’S that municipal bonds is good way to strengthen the municipal bodies then I went for it. Then my book was launched in US Embassy in Delhi in November 2022. US Treasury Department declared it as a ‘toolkit.’ z How NITI Aayog recognized this work ? I sent this book to NITI z How could Municipal Corporation improve its working style to implement the municipal bonds ? When we are closing the bond, we have to follow the strict guidelines of SEBI. When we issue the bond, we borrowing the money from market. So, Municipal Corporation should ensure that credit worthiness of the bond should be highly reasonable. Because Baroda model is successful because of its AA plus rating which is one of the highest ratings. When corporation issues bond, it automatically improves the governance, administrative process and transparency of corporations. z Do you think the idea will impacted the growing economy like India ? According to increasing urbanisation, municipal corporations has to maintain sufficient funds. So corporations may take one option of municipal bond other than Central,State govt and taxes & user charge. Bond also Important for small cities also because it involves credit rating & administrative and governance process. After issuing bond, Baroda’s all citizen- centric service is online and it improves E- governance. z How it could impacted the World economy, especially after COVID ?

Aayog and after its launching, I was invited in various national conferences as speaker. PM also given appreciation to this project and then NITI Aayog had written a letter to State government and UT’S that municipal bonds is good way to strengthen the municipal bodies.

Population increasing and in this situation municipal bond is innovative way of financing. It also ensures the reforms of financial process and in today’s world reform and innovation is must.