Babita Phogat met the protesting wrestlers in Delhi with the Centre’s message
A number of wrestlers, including leading wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, protested for the second day on Thursday at Delhi’s Jandar Mandar against the WFI and its president Brij Bhushan Charan Singh for sexual harassment.
I have assured them that the government is with them. I will try that their issues are resolved today: Champion wrestler & BJP leader Babita Phogat at Jantar Mantar protest site in Delhi pic.twitter.com/By8aIvnhd9
— ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2023
Triple Commonwealth Games gold medalist Vinesh, one of India’s most decorated women’s wrestlers, has accused her federation president and several coaches of sexually harassing several athletes. Vinesh made the allegations in a public demonstration on Wednesday, backed by several top wrestlers, both male and female.
Champion wrestler and BJP leader Babita Phogat arrived at the protest site with the government’s message, Punia said.
“Pabita Phogat has come from the government side to mediate. We will talk to her and give more details later,” Punia told reporters on Thursday
I have assured them that the government is with them. I will try that their issues are resolved today: Champion wrestler & BJP leader Babita Phogat at Jantar Mantar protest site in Delhi pic.twitter.com/By8aIvnhd9
— ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2023
“If we can fight for our country, we can fight for our rights,” added Bajrang Punia.
Bogut said the government has assured the wrestlers that they are with them.
“I have assured them that the government is with them. I will try to resolve their issues today,” said Bogat.
Vinesh Phogat told reporters that Brij Bhushan, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party MP, and the coaches were guilty.
Vinesh accused Brij Bhushan of sexually harassing girls and calling him “kota chica” after he lost the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
On the sidelines of the sit-in against the WFI, Vinesh said, “Coaches harass women and some of the federation’s favorite coaches misbehave with women coaches too. Girls are sexually harassed. The WFI leader sexually harassed many girls.
The agitating wrestlers further alleged that the WFI was interfering in their personal lives and exploiting them. “When we went to the Olympics, we didn’t have a physio or a coach. After we started raising our voice, we were threatened,” a wrestler told news agency ANI.
However, Brij Bhushan denied this allegation and said that if that happens, he will commit suicide by hanging. “There were no incidents of sexual harassment. If such an incident had happened, I would have hanged myself,” the President said during a press conference.
