Opp walks out of Lok Sabha after Govt details expenses on Vinesh training

Phogat, who was set to face American Sarah Hildebrandt Wednesday in the 50-kg category finals, was disqualified because she was 100 grams overweight.

Mandaviya made the statement in the Lower House after a demand from the Opposition. He began by informing the House that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had lodged a strong protest with United World Wrestling over Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked IOA chief P T Usha to take “appropriate action”.

“As far as the assistance for her preparations is concerned, the Government of India has provided every possible assistance to Vinesh Phogat as per her requirements. Personal staff who are experts of their respective fields were also appointed for her,” the minister said.

He said Phogat’s renowned Hungarian coach Woller Akos and physio Ashwini Patil were accompanying her. He also said financial assistance was provided for additional personal assisting staff, such as sparring partners and strength and conditioning experts.

“For the Paris Olympics cycle, they were provided financial assistance of a total of `70.45 lakh,” Mandaviya said, followed by a detailed account of the money spent on her training.

At this, the Opposition benches rose in protest. Opposition MPs asked the minister to answer on lapses rather than giving out details of expenses.

Gaurav Gogoi and Deepender Hooda led the charge from the Opposition benches. Gogoi was heard shouting: “You call yourself Vishwaguru but could not help a potential gold medalist. You say you have stopped a war but you could not help your own player.”

Gogoi was also heard saying that instead of talking about money spent on athletes, the minister should have spoken about the harm done to the athletes because they had been forced to protest. He was referring to the sit-in by Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia last year against then Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for allegedly molesting female wrestlers.

Hooda kept asking the Chair for permission to seek clarification from the minister. When Speaker Om Birla did not allow the same, the Opposition walked out.

Opposition members returned to the House later.

Following the walkout, Hooda told The Indian Express: “If she has reached the finals, at least she should get the silver medal. Why isn’t the government trying… We wanted to hear this (that the Indian government will also do this). But the minister began giving details of the money spent. He didn’t even express grief. That is why we walked out.”

Participating in the debate on the Finance Bill, Congress’s Shafi Parambil criticised Mandviya’s statement.

“It was not right on the part of the government to quote the amount that was spent on her practice… when the whole world is listening. It is not from the pockets of some BJP leader. It is the money of the people of this country. Today our responsibility was to simply show our solidarity with her. You could have said this (money spent) on some other day. Not today,” Parambil said.

In Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge sought a discussion on the issue of Phogat’s disqualification. Chairman Dhankhar, however, denied him permission. Dhankhar asked Kharge to write the issue he sought to discuss on paper and submit it to him.

With Dhankhar refusing permission, Opposition MPs began sloganeering during the speech of AIADMK’s M Thambidurai during a discussion on Appropriation (No 2) Bill 2024 and Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation (No 3) Bill, 2024. The sloganeering continued for five minutes after which the Opposition walked out.

Expressing displeasure, Dhankhar said the Opposition’s conduct was “indecorous and undignified and challenged the authority of the Chair.”

“The Leader of Opposition wants to raise an important issue affecting countrymen but nothing is mentioned, it is done only to earn brownie points…this is an important theatre of dialogue and deliberation and I take exception towards a stance and trend that is emerging to challenge the Chair every time,” Dhankhar said.

Bhupinder Hooda, KC Tyagi see conspiracy

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification and the government’s response to it invited sharp reactions outside Parliament as well.

At a press conference in Haryana, former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda suggested there was a conspiracy to deny Phogat a medal.

“I have never heard of such a thing happening. The government must investigate this. I believe there is a conspiracy,” Hooda said.

JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi echoed this.

“After reaching the finals, which she was sure to win, she was disqualified at the 11th hour… We suspect manipulation as part of a conspiracy. Such things are not new at the Olympics. I am happy that the PM has taken up this matter with the Olympic Association. Hopefully justice will be done,” he told The Indian Express. ENS