Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, May 3: Facing criticism from different quarters for her “insensitive” comments against the protesting wrestlers, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president and noted sprinter PT Usha reached the protest site at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Wednesday and reportedly assured her support in their struggle against alleged sexual harassment by the Wrestlers Federation of India (WFI).
Usha, who was earlier criticised for calling the wresters’ sit-in dharna at Jantar Mantar a show of indiscipline bringing “disrepute” to the country, told the agitating wrestlers on Wednesday that she was with them as she was an athlete first and then an administrator.
Usha changed her stand on the long-pending issue even as one of the medal-winning wrestler Vinesh Phogat launched an attack on the sports minister Anurag Thakur that he deliberately tried to derail their agitation last time by forming a committee to inquire into their complaints of sexual harassment of women wrestlers by the WFI chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, also a BJP Member of Parliament, and other coaches at the WFI. She said they withdrew their agitation in January or assurance from the minister but then no action was taken by the government against the guilty.
Also contradicting Singh’s earlier claim that no one ever complained against him in 12 years he was holding the office of the WFI president and the current agitation was politically motivated backed by the Congress, the Rio Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik said it was not the first time that wrestlers have approached law enforcement agencies seeking an FIR against Singh. She alleged that in 2012 also about half a dozen junior athletes had approached the police in Lucknow for filling an FIR against him but it was swept under the carpet due to the BJP strongman’s influence.
Former sprinter Usha had come down heavily on the wrestlers for resuming their protest instead of approaching the IOA for their issues. She had said the wrestlers should have shown some discipline and that they had tarnished the country’s image by hitting the streets, a comment that brought criticism for her and the IOA.
Ms. Usha left without speaking with the media after meeting the wrestlers on Wednesday but Bajrang Punia said she has assured them help. “Initially when she said that, we felt very bad but then she said her comments were misinterpreted. She said that she is first an athlete and then an administrator,” the wrestler said.
“We told her that we want justice. We don’t have a fight with the government or Opposition or anyone else. We are sitting here for the betterment of wrestling. If this issue is resolved and if the allegations against Singh are proved then there should be legal action,” he added.
When asked if Ms. Usha had come with a solution from the government or from the IOA, Punia, “Nothing of that sort.” “She only said she is with us.” Asked if he was satisfied following the meeting with Ms. Usha, he said, “If she is giving us assurance, I suppose she should fulfil that assurance. But we clarified to her that until and unless things are not okay and we get justice, of which we are very hopeful, this protest will continue.”
Asked if any solution had emerged, he said, “If the things she has spoken about… if there is an initiative along those lines, then definitely there will be a solution to this issue. She said she will try to resolve all our problems. If she wants she can do anything.”
Reacting to wrestlers’ resumption of protest, P.T. Usha, after the IOA’s Executive Committee meeting last week, had said, “Thoda toh discipline hona chahiye [there should be some discipline]. IOA acting CEO Kalyan Chaubey had said, “IOA President Dr. P.T. Usha would like to say that this kind of agitation is not good for the country’s image. India has a good reputation globally. This negative publicity is not good for the country.”
This had invited criticism for Ms. Usha for not understanding the wrestlers’ point of view despite being a former athlete and a woman herself. The wrestlers had reacted strongly to Ms Usha’s statement, saying they were hurt by her comments as they were looking up to her for support.
“We feel hurt by PT Usha’s comment. She is not supporting us despite being a woman herself. What indiscipline have we done? We are sitting here peacefully. If we had got justice, we would not have done this,” wrestler Sakshi Malik had said. “We don’t know whether she is under some kinds of pressure,” wrestler Vinesh Phogat had said.
Top Indian wrestlers have been protesting at Jantar Mantar in the national capital against Brijbhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment.
The Delhi Police have filed two cases against Singh over the sexual assault allegations against him. One of the FIRs is based on a complaint by a minor, filed under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Despite the assurance of police action, the wrestlers said they will continue their sit-in protest demanding the “immediate arrest” of the WFI chief.
“We respect Supreme Court’s order, but we don’t have faith in Delhi Police. This fight is not for an FIR. This fight is to punish people like him. He needs to be in jail and stripped of his portfolios,” the wrestlers had said.
Ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who has been protesting at Jantar Mantar with other top grapplers demanding action against Singh, said it was tough to stand against a powerful person who was misusing his power and position for a very long time. Addressing the media, Olympian Vinesh Phogat said, “It is very difficult to stand against a person who is misusing his power and position for so long.”
She revealed that the wrestlers had met an official before they started their protest in Jantar Mantar, for the first time. But, no action was taken. “Three-four months before we sat at Jantar Mantar in January, we had met an official, we had told him everything that how women athletes are sexually harassed and mentally tortured when no action was taken, then we sat on Dharna,” Vinesh added.
Slamming the union sports minister she said, “We ended our protest after talking to Union Sports Minister (Anurag Thakur), and all the athletes had told him about the sexual harassment. By forming a committee, he tried to suppress the matter there; no action was taken that time,” she said.
Wrestler Bajrang Punia addressed the allegations that they are protesting against new rules introduced for the selection for the Olympics. “He (Brijbhushan) is saying that we have made some rules for the Olympics and therefore these athletes are protesting; firstly, this is not about the Olympics, this is against sexual harassment. And if I talk about the Olympics rule; the federation will take trials of athletes coming from the Olympics, whoever they want,” he said.
