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Journalism of Courage
A day after women wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik accused BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment, the Congress on Thursday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the allegations and asked if this is the “better environment” for sports that has been created by the government.
In a tweet in Hindi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “Our players are the pride of the country. They bring laurels to the country by their performance at the world level.” “The players have made serious allegations of exploitation against the Wrestling Federation and its president and their voices should be heard,” she added.
Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh stated, “The list of BJP leaders who have committed atrocities on daughters is endless. Was ‘Beti Bachao’ a warning to save daughters from BJP leaders! Prime Minister, please answer.” He further asked: “Mr Prime Minister, why are all those who commit atrocities on daughters from the BJP?”
Ramesh also said, “Yesterday, you said that a better environment has been created for sports in the country. Is this the ‘better environment’ in which even the daughters who bring laurels to the country are not safe?”
Inaugurating a sports event in Uttar Pradesh via video conference on Wednesday, PM Modi said, “Many talents remained away from the field. But in the last eight years, the country has left behind this old thinking. Work has been done to create a better environment for sports, so now more children and youths are looking at sports as a career option.”
Hundreds of wrestlers have been protesting against the WFI chief at Jantar Mantar asking for his resignation. Addressing the media, Vinesh Phogat, the country’s only double World Championship medallist, said, “Women wrestlers have been sexually harassed at national camps by coaches and also the WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan. Some of the coaches appointed at national camps have been sexually harassing women wrestlers for years. The WFI president is also involved in sexual harassment.”
Sharing the dais with Vinesh and endorsing the allegations, India’s lone Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik said, “We have just come to save them. We are fighting for them. When the time comes, we will speak up. We will give the names of those who have been exploited to whoever is doing the probe.”
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