New Delhi: In a major transfer, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday met Bajrang Puni and different high wrestlers in Haryana within the wake of ongoing protests over the brand new chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and the Sports Ministry’s subsequent suspension of the federation’s newly-elected physique.
Rahul Gandhi Expresses Solidarity With Wrestlers
In a present of solidarity with the aggrieved wrestlers, Rahul Gandhi took this chance to interact straight with the wrestling group. This transfer emphasizes the political curiosity and concern for the welfare of athletes, transcending the normal boundaries of social gathering politics.
Rahul Gandhi’s involvement would not finish in Jhajjar; he’s scheduled to go to Rohtak later within the day. The focus will shift to the Mehar Singh Akhara in Dev Colony, as the previous Congress president continues to face by the wrestling fraternity of their pursuit of justice and truthful illustration.
Unrest Among The WrestlersÂ
The backdrop of this gathering is the unrest echoing by the wrestling group, with a number of wrestlers returning their hard-earned awards in protest in opposition to the latest election outcomes of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
Suspension Of Wrestling Body
The newly elected president of WFI, Sanjay Singh, a detailed affiliate of BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, has stirred controversy. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh stepped down from his place earlier this yr following allegations of sexual harassment. The political entanglements inside WFI have created a ripple impact, resulting in a protest spearheaded by eminent wrestlers like Bajrang Poonia, Vinesh Phogat, and Sakshee Malikkh.
Top Wrestlers Continue Protest
Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang Poonia, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat, and fellow Olympic bronze medallist Sakshee Malikkh have emerged because the faces of this protest. Their unwavering stand in opposition to the perceived injustice within the wrestling federation has introduced consideration not solely from the sports activities fraternity but additionally from political circles.
Amid the continuing protests, Vinesh Phogat on Tuesday determined to return her Khel Ratna and Arjuna award to the Prime Minister, saying such honours have change into meaningless when wrestlers are struggling badly for justice, aggravating the disaster that has gripped the game. Phogat, the two-time World Championship medal winner, introduced her resolution in her letter penned for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In the letter posted on X, Phogat stated their lives usually are not like these “fancy government advertisements” that speak about girls’s empowerment and upliftment. “The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards don’t have any meaning in my life now. Every woman in this country wants to lead a dignified life. So PM sir I want to return my Dhyan Chand and Arjun award to you so that these awards don’t become a burden on us in our endeavour to lead a dignified life,” she wrote in her letter.
Phogat, 29, was conferred with the Khel Ratna – the best sports activities honour in India – in 2020 whereas she obtained the Arjuna award in 2016. Phogat’s resolution comes days after Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia and Deafylmpics champion Virender Singh Yadav returned their Padma Shri awards and Rio Games bronze medallist Sakshi Malik give up the game after Sanjay Singh’s election as WFI President on December 21.
Amid political turbulence and the continuing protests, Rahul Gandhi’s assembly with the wrestlers holds significance, underlining the intricate intersection of sports activities, politics, and the pursuit of justice within the Indian wrestling panorama.
