Facing allegations of ''sexual assault'' from some protesting female wrestlers, a defiant Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brijbhushan Sharan Singh on Saturday categorically ruled out his resignation saying that ''resigning will mean accepting the charges''.
''There is no question of resigning...to resign means accepting the allegations.....I am innocent and will put forth my side of the story during the investigation...one does not become guilty simply after someone makes allegations against him,'' Singh told reporters in Gonda, his home town, about 200 kilometres from here.
He said that he had full faith in the Supreme Court. ''I have full faith in the judiciary of the country....I am sure the investigating agency will find me innocent,'' Singh said.
The WFI chief also said that he did not want to relinquish his post as a 'criminal'. ''My tenure will be ending in the next few days....a new chief will be elected,'' he went on to add.
Singh hit back at the protesting wrestlers saying that their demands were 'changing' with the passage of time. ''They (wrestlers) are changing their demands every day,'' he remarked in reply to a question.
He also lashed at Vinesh Fogat and said that he had not got the post of WFI chief on merit and not on the mercy of someone. ''I was elected to the post.....the wrestlers of only one akhara (wrestling arena) have been protesting against me...one family and one akhara will no longer rule wrestling in India,'' Singh said.
Only a day before Singh had released a video containing a poem which implied rejection of all charges and even hinting that he would prefer death to the feeling of helplessness.
Singh had earlier also refused to resign and while terming the allegations 'baseless' and a 'conspiracy' said that there would be a 'tsunami' he opened his mouth.
''I am ready to face a probe by any agency... the allegations against me are part of a political conspiracy and I will soon expose it,'' he had said and blamed a senior Congress leader from Haryana behind the allegations.
Delhi police has registered an FIR against Singh regarding alleged sexual harassment of some female wrestlers and also under the POCSO Act as one of the alleged victim was a minor.