Usha assures support to protesting wrestlers
NEW DELHI: A day after Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik made a scathing attack on Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha and Athletes Commission chief MC Mary Kom for not backing their fight to get Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) head Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh punished, the track great visited the protesting wrestlers at their Jantar Mantar sit-in on Wednesday.
But late in the evening, a scuffle broke out at the protest site between the police and the wrestlers. The wrestlers alleged that one of their fellow protesters was beaten up by the police and Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik were abused. “We were bringing the folding beds inside because of the rain when the police beat up the driver and a scuffle broke out. The police beat up Dushyant Phogat (the younger brother of Sangeeta Phogat) and he has a head injury,” Bajrang Punia said. Punia also alleged: “At least two policemen including an ACP were drunk.” At the time of going to press, there was no official comment from the police. Earlier in the day, Usha, who had called their sit-in protest accusing Singh of sexually harassing women wrestlers and demanding action as an act of indiscipline, offered her support and solidarity. The athletics icon spent about 30 minutes with the wrestlers on the 11th day of sit-in. She did not speak to the media. “Usha ma’am has extended her support to our cause. Better late than never,” Punia said. “We have utmost respect for her as an athlete. She said her earlier statements were misinterpreted.”
Last Thursday, speaking to the media after IOA’s Executive Council meeting, Usha said, “IOA has an athlete commission and instead of hitting the streets, these wrestlers should’ve come to us.”
“The athletes should have been disciplined. If their problems are real, they should’ve come to us. If they were not satisfied with us, then they could’ve gone anywhere. But hitting the streets is not good for sports, not just for wrestlers.”
Usha’s visit followed a meeting of the senior IOA officials on Tuesday night which decided that she should visit the wrestlers to salvage the apex sports body’s image. The protestors had expressed anguish at Usha’s comments and boxing stalwart Mary — she head the oversight committee of the union sports ministry which probed their initial complaint — not commenting on the issue. Usha’s visit helped in damage control though the wrestlers were wary. “She came across as a good person. She has reached the top of IOA but is being manipulated by the politicians. We still respect her a lot as an athlete,” Phogat said. Punia added: “She assured us that justice will be done. So far, assurances have been no good, but we respect her sentiment. She said she wants to see us compete and win medals for the country. She feels disappointed we’re sitting here. She also said such investigation takes time and we must be patient,” said Phogat. “She is also a Rajya Sabha member, we requested her to raise our issue.”
‘Don’t trust Delhi Police’ The wrestlers accused the Delhi Police — it has registered two first information reports (FIRs) based on complaints by seven wrestlers — of spreading misinformation about their sit-in. “We don’t trust Delhi Police. They are under serious political pressure and are resorting to petty tricks to discredit us,” Punia said. The wrestlers alleged also that an NGO team that wanted to visit them on Wednesday morning was told by the police that the protesters had vacated the site. “The police have been telling people that we go to a hotel at night and come back by noon the next day. We have booked a few rooms to wash and change but sleep at Jantar Mantar all night. Anyone who wants to verify is welcome,” Malik said. Their counsel Narendra Hooda said the police were resorting to “delaying tactics”. The next hearing in their case in Supreme Court is on Thursday. In Jalandhar, union sports minister Anurag Thakur warned against hasty action.
“You can’t just arrest anyone without having a lengthy investigation,” he said.
World body seeks clarity The United World Wrestling (UWW) president Nenad Lalovic has sought clarity on who is running the sport in the country, PTI reported. In a letter to WFI on April 28, he wrote it wasn’t clear who ran the daily affairs of the body though it seemed the secretary-general (VN Prasood) “is still in place and works actively”.