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Why is PM Narendra Modi and BJP being blamed for Vinesh Phogat's disqualification from Olympics gold medal match?

Vinesh Phogat was from her wrestling gold medal match for weighing 50 grams extra from her 50kg weight category, and a section of fans wasted no time in alleging that PM Narendra Modi and his ruling BJP government has a role to play in it.

For the unversed, the 29-year-old wrestler led out a massive protest last year against former former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and stalwart BJP leader Brij Bhusan Singh Sharan for alleged sexual exploitation and intimidation of female wrestler including a minor.

why-is-pm-narendra-modi-and-bjp-being-blamed-for-vinesh-phogats-disqualification-from-olympics-gold

According to the protesters, 7 female wrestlers, including a minor, had filed a sexual harassment complaint against Brij Bhushan at the CP police station in Delhi but the police didn't register any FIR.

A few days after the wrestlers started their protest against Brij Bhusan Singh, they called it off after meeting minister Anurag Thakur, who promised them that Brij Bhushan would step aside till the probe is completed by the committee formed by IOA which included MC Mary Kom and Yogeshwar Dutt.

The WFI kept on denying sexual harassment charges by women wrestlers against its president and coach. The Sports Ministry stepped in and asked the WFI to suspend all ongoing activities with immediate effect.

As a 5-member Oversight Committee (OC), led by Mary Kom, began looking into the allegations, Vinesh Phogat-led wrestlers expressed disappointment that they were not consulted by the government on the choice of the committee members.

The wrestlers were also unhappy after the report submitted by OC was not made public and election date on May 7 was finalised. They returned back to Jantar Mantar for the protest but were manhandled by police forces this time.

The scuffle between the wrestlers and police led to lathi charge and injuries. Female wrestlers accused "drunk officials of manhandling" and "misbehaving" with them. The wrestlers were detained by the police officials and the pictures from the riot-like situation went viral on social media across the world.

Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, and other protesters were booked for rioting and obstructing public servant in discharge of duty when they attempted to march towards the new Parliament.

A case against the six-time BJP Brij Bhusan Sharan Singh is ongoing in a Delhi court but a decision is yet to be taken.

Story first published: Wednesday, August 7, 2024, 13:35 [IST]
Other articles published on Aug 7, 2024
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