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By Alok Ranjan: Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha on Thursday said grapplers lacked discipline as they hit the streets to protest against the WFI chief. She told reporters that wrestlers should have approached the IOA rather than recommencing their public protest against federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
“Wrestlers staging protests on the streets amounts to indiscipline. It is tarnishing the image of India,” Usha said.
READ | Will register FIR today on wrestlers’ complaint: Delhi Police tells Supreme Court
Several wrestlers, notably Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia, have been fighting for justice since the beginning of January, accusing Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually harassing wrestlers. The wrestlers started a protest in Jantar Mantar in New Delhi earlier this week after doing it once in January.
The wrestlers, who are calling for action against the WFI chief, claimed that PT Usha’s criticism of their protest has “hurt” them. Geeta Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia reacted to Usha’s comment.
“I admire PT Usha. She’s motivated us. But, ma’am, I have a question. Women wrestlers have come up and brought up the subject of harassment. Can’t we protest as well?” Sakshi Malik asked.
Bajrang Punia said he and other wrestlers will continue to demonstrate if they don’t receive justice. He also criticised PT Usha for not understanding the pain of women athletes despite being a woman.
Many, including politicians from different parties such as Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti have reacted to PT Usha’s comment that the protesting wrestlers lacked discipline.
PDP President Mehbooba Mufti tweeted this morning, “Sad to see a sports icon like PT Usha shame women wrestlers. Must have taken a lot of courage to raise their voice against sexual predators. Instead of standing with them, such statements further stigmatize the victims and their decision to speak up.”
Reacting to PT Usha’s statement, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said, “Country’s image is tarnished when we have MPs accused of sexual harassment going scot free while the victims have to struggle for justice. Am sorry Ma’am we must collectively speak up for our sportswomen and not accuse them of tarnishing image when they are the ones who won laurels for our country and gave us reasons to be proud!”
Reacting to Usha’s comments, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tweeted, “It does not become you to disparage the justified protests of your fellow sportspersons in the face of repeated and wanton sexual harassment. Their standing up for their rights does not “tarnish the image of the nation”. Ignoring their concerns — instead of hearing them out, investigating them and taking just action — does.”
On Thursday, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra slammed PT Usha for her remarks. “So the ruling party MP chairing WFI for years accused of molestation and abuse of power against whom the Delhi Police refuses to lodge an FIR in spite of the SC order makes India smell of roses, does it?” she said, adding the hashtag ‘StopCrawling’.
Meanwhile, many sportspersons have come forward in support of the protesting wrestlers.
Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra came out in support of the protesting wrestlers. “It hurts me to see our athletes on the streets demanding justice. They have worked hard to represent our great nation and make us proud,” he said.
Former cricketer and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu also announced his support for the wrestlers. He tweeted, “Shocking that 9 women of recognition complained and no FIR is registered. it’ll be a tear on the cheek of time in Indian history. Any country that insults their women icons is hurting its own pride. These women have brought laurels to the nation. They have given wings to the aspirations of millions.”
Kapil Dev, cricket legend and the captain of the 1983 World Cup-winning squad, also spoke out in favour of the wrestlers’ protest.
“Will they ever get justice?” Kapil wrote on his Instagram page with a picture of the athletes in protest.
Cricketer Harbhajan Singh also came out in support and tweeted, “Sakshi, Vinesh are India’s pride. I am pained as a sportsperson to find pride of our country coming out to protest on the streets. I pray that they get justice. #IStandWithWrestlers “
Boxer Nikhat Zareen also tweeted in solidarity with the protesting wrestlers. She wrote “It breaks my heart to see our Olympic & World medallists in this state. Sportspeople also serve the nation by bringing glory & laurels. I sincerely hope & pray that the law takes its own course and justice is served at the earliest.”
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