Olympian Babita Phogat At Wrestlers’ Big Protest As Centre’s ‘Messenger’
Babita Phogat, a wrestler and BJP leader, met with other wrestlers today who were protesting sexual harassment claims made against prominent members of the nation’s major wrestling organisation and promised them prompt action. Ms. Phogat delivered a “message from the government” to 200 or so wrestlers at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, including Olympians Vinesh Phogat, Sakshee Malikkh, and Bajrang Punia.
Ms. Phogat, the youngest of the Phogat sisters whose lives served as inspiration for the Bollywood film “Dangal,” is a three-time medalist at the Commonwealth Games and an Olympian. She spoke to the protesting wrestlers at the protest site today as an office bearer for the BJP’s youth wing, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. “I am a wrestler first. The BJP government is with the wrestlers. I will make sure that action is taken today itself. I am a wrestler, and I am in the government as well, so it is my responsibility to mediate.”
Amid the damning allegations against top office-bearers of the federation, including president Brij Bhushan Charan Singh, and senior coaches, Ms Phogat said, “I have heard instances of abuse in my career as well. There is no smoke without fire. These voices are important.”
In response to the devastating accusations made against senior coaches and the federation’s president, Brij Bhushan Charan Singh, Ms. Phogat stated, “In my profession, I have also heard of abuse cases. Without fire, there would be no smoke. These opinions matter.”
Ms. Phogat had already tweeted that she would try her hardest to bring up this matter at every opportunity.
One of the wrestlers who has claimed that coaches are assaulting women is Vinesh Phogat, the first Indian woman to win gold at the Asian and Commonwealth Games. Additionally, she claimed that some coaches who are “favourites of the federation” also act inappropriately with female coaches. “They harass girls sexually. The WFI president has harassed numerous girls sexually, “She stated.
The accusations have been denied by the federation’s president Singh, a BJP lawmaker. “If any of the sexual harassment claims are shown to be accurate, I will end my life because they are all untrue. I attempted to contact the wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, but was unable “News agency ANI cited the 66-year-old as saying.
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