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Tag: Phogat

  • Kills us if you want, won’t tolerate such disrespect: Vinesh Phogat

    Kills us if you want, won’t tolerate such disrespect: Vinesh Phogat

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    New Delhi: Shocked and appalled by the boorish behaviour by the Delhi Police towards protesting wrestlers late Thursday evening, an emotionally distraught Vinesh Phogat said they were not criminals and did not deserve such disrespect.

    The wrestlers are sitting on protest from April 23, demanding arrest of WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh alleging that he has sexually harassed seven female grapplers, including one minor.

    Around 11 pm, a scuffle broke out at Jantar Mantar between the protesting wrestlers when they were bringing in folding beds for their night stay and the on-duty police personnel allegedly began enquiring about that.

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    According to the wrestlers, the police officers started behaving badly with them and even abused the women wrestlers.

    “If you want to kill us, then kill us,” a crying Vinesh said during a late night media interaction.

    “Did we win medals for the country to see this day? We have not even eaten our food. Does every man have a right to abuse women? These police men are holding guns, they can kill us,” an emotionally drained Vinesh said.

    “Where were female police officers? How can the male officers push us like that. We are not criminals. We do not deserve such treatment. The police officer who was drunk hit my brother,” the World Championship medallist said.

    Bajrang Punia exhorted the farmers and the general public to reach Jantar Mantar in their support.

    “I request everyone to reach Delhi by morning. This is the time. If not now, then when. This is question of dignity of our daughters. People like Brij Bhushan (WFI President) are roaming free despite being a criminal and all this is happening to us,” Bajrang said.

    Asked to give more details, Bajrang said, “CCTV cameras must be here. Foortage will make it clear.”

    Asked specifically if AAP leader Somnath Bharti had brought the folding beds, as being claimed by the Delhi Police, Bajrang said,”CCTV footagecan show he was not there when it happened. We had ordered the beds, we were bringing the beds inside.”



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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Anurag Thakur tried to suppress the matter: Vinesh Phogat amid protest

    Anurag Thakur tried to suppress the matter: Vinesh Phogat amid protest

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    New Delhi: India’s ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who has been protesting at the Jantar Mantar here with other top grapplers against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, has alleged that Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur tried to suppress the matter by forming an oversight panel instead of taking concrete action.

    During their second phase of their protest, wrestlers are demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan, who is also a BJP MP.

    “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,” Vinesh told reporters.

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    The ace wrestler also said that it is tough to stand against a powerful person who is misusing his power and position for a very long time.

    “It is very difficult to stand against a person who is misusing his power and position for so long,” she said.

    The Olympian further 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, we had met an official, we had told him everything about how women athletes are sexually harassed and mentally tortured when no action was taken, then we sat on dharna,” Vinesh said.

    Meanwhile, Brij Bhushan has refused to resign from the wrestling body, saying it would then mean he has accepted the allegations.

    “If I resign that means I have accepted their allegations, my tenure is about to end. Till a new party is formed and the government has formed an IOA committee under that committee elections will be held and then my tenure will end,” he told the media earlier.

    The wrestlers’ protest has become a huge political issue, with several opposition leaders showing solidarity with the athletes and demanding the resignation of the WFI chief.

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Will continue protest until accused is punished: Sangeeta Phogat

    Will continue protest until accused is punished: Sangeeta Phogat

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    Delhi: Sangeeta Phogat, a rising Indian wrestler and Bajrag Punia’s wife, on Friday said that the wrestlers will continue to protest and fight for justice.

    Indian wrestlers are protesting at Jantar Mantar in the national capital against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment.

    Top Indian grapplers such as Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and many other wrestlers are involved in the protest against the WFI chief.

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    “We didn’t get justice earlier. We were fighting for justice earlier and we are fighting for justice now. We will continue to do so until the accused is punished. So we will continue to protest here.

    The girls have blamed him for sexual harassment so an FIR should be registered and he should get punished according to the acts. As you can see nobody came to us we didn’t receive a phone call nobody has told us that we will get justice,” Sangeeta Phogat said.

    Commonwealth Games gold medalist Vinesh Phogat also expressed her frustration on Thursday with Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha’s comments on the wrestlers’ protest against the WFI and its president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh.

    Earlier, PT Usha said on Thursday that the wrestlers should have approached the IOA instead of going out in the streets against the WFI and its president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, who the wrestlers accused of sexual harassment and mismanagement of athletes.

    “Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is having a committee for sexual harassment, instead of going to the streets they (protesting wrestlers) could have come to us earlier but they did not come to IOA. It is not good for sports not only for wrestlers, they should also have some discipline,” said Usha to the media.

    Wrestlers have expressed disappointment with Usha’s comments.
    “Being a woman athlete, she (PT Usha) is not listening to other women athletes. We have followed her since childhood and got inspired by her. Where is indiscipline here, we are sitting here peacefully..” Sakshi Malik told mediapersons.

    Vinesh Phogat, the CWG and World Championships medalist also called Usha’s comments “insensitive”.
    “We live as per the constitution and are independent citizens. We can go anywhere.

    If we are sitting out in the streets, there must be some reason, a reason that nobody listened to us, be it IOA or Sports Ministry. Her saying this is insensitive. I even called her, but she did not pick up my phone,” said Vinesh.

    Bajrang Punia, the Olympic medalist also said, “You feel sad when she says these things because she is the IOA Chief and a woman herself, she cried for her academy in front of the media. She wants us to approach IOA, but we went there three months back, but no justice was given.”

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Wrestling row: Babita Phogat joins oversight committee

    Wrestling row: Babita Phogat joins oversight committee

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    Delhi: Commonwealth Games gold medallist wrestler Babita Phogat has joined the oversight committee formed to probe the various allegations against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

    Formed by the Sports Ministry, the oversight committee is carrying out an enquiry into the allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment, intimidation, financial irregularities and administrative lapses of the WFI and its chief.

    The allegations were levelled by prominent grapplers such as Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Ravi Dahiya.

    “Former wrestler Babita Phogat has been added to the panel of the Oversight Committee formed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to undertake the day-to-day administration of the Wrestling Federation of India,” the ministry said in a statement.

    Babita is the sixth member of the oversight committee, being headed by legendary boxer MC Mary Kom, and includes former wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, former shuttler Trupti Murgunde, Radhica Sreeman and Rajesh Rajagopalan, ex-CEO, Target Olympic Podium Scheme.

    Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had earlier this month announced the formation of the committee to investigate the charges against the WFI chief and also manage the day-to-day affairs of the sports body.

    The tussle between the agitating grapplers and the WFI ended after the athletes called off their protest following assurances from the government.

    However, Bajrang, Vinesh, Sarita Mor and Sakshi, who staged a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar for three days demanding the sacking of the WFI president, had also expressed disappointment that they were not consulted before the formation of the committee.

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )