Political Spats, “Conspiracy” Charges After Vinesh Phogat Disqualified

New Delhi: Wrestler Vinesh Phogat‘s heartbreaking disqualification from the Paris Olympics – for being 100 grams overweight – means a political battle is brewing between the BJP and the Congress-led opposition, particularly in light of sexual assault allegations against ex-wrestling body chief Brij Bhushan.

Phogat’s disqualification was followed by a flood of reactions from political leaders; Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the government’s charge focusing on her “resilience” – and called her “a champion among champions” and urging her to “come back stronger”.

“Today’s setback hurts. I wish words could express the sense of despair that I am experiencing. At the same time… you epitomise resilience. It has always been your nature to take challenges head-on. We are all rooting for you,” he said.

PM Modi, Ministers’ Message Of Support

The Prime Minister was joined by other senior members of the Indian government, including Home Minister Amit Shah, in hailing Ms Phogat’s “resilience”. Mr Shah, for example, said “this misfortune is an exception in her trailblazing career… am sure she will bounce back to win…”

READ | Can Vinesh Phogat’s Disqualification Be Overturned? PM Modi

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju called Ms Phogat “a beacon of hope and pride for India”.

Finally, to underline the scale of political aftershocks of Ms Phogat’s sporting disqualification, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya spoke in the Lok Sabha, accompanied by protests from the opposition.

READ | Wrestler Vinesh Phogat Out Of Olympics Over Weight, India Appeals

Mr Mandaviya’s statement, however, raised eyebrows.

Confirming the disqualification, he only declared the government had provided all possible assistance to Ms Phogat, which included personal staff and training facilities, and outlined expenditures made.

#WATCH | Delhi | INDIA bloc MPs stage protest at Makar Dwar of Parliament seeking justice for wrestler Vinesh Phogat after disqualification from Paris Olympics pic.twitter.com/8qZ6GqjbeT

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2024

Opposition MPs dissatisfied with his statement walked out of the House in protest.

“Coaches, Physiotherapists Paid In Lakhs”

The statement has been seen as a riposte to claims by Punjab Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Bhagwant Mann, who was prompt in meeting Ms Phogat’s uncle, Mahavir Phogat, in Haryana.

#WATCH | Charkhi Dadri, Haryana | On Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann says,” To check her weight was the work of her coaches and physiotherapists. Now, the decision has come. This injustice should have been stopped…Did they (The Centre) fix anyone’s… pic.twitter.com/0UmPHc7s4Q

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2024

“… such mistakes are happening (at) such a high level. Coaches and physiotherapists are paid in lakhs… to check her weight was their work. Have they gone there for holidays?”

“40 Crore Indians Shocked”, Congress Attacks

On X Congress MP Randeep Surjewala claimed a “conspiracy” (the word is now trending on the platform) and declared a “black day” in the history of Indian sports. “40 crore Indians are shocked… this is a huge “hate conspiracy”. But know that the country is with her…” Mr Surjewala said.

The Congress leader’s lengthy tweet also included detailed references to the #MeToo protest against six-time former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh, who faces charges of sexual harassment. Unmoved by his protestations of innocence a Delhi court said there is “sufficient evidence” to proceed.

“First the Wrestling Association President, the BJP MP of that time… Brij Bhushan Singh… tortured the country’s world champion daughter with physical and mental torture. Then BJP people got this daughter of the country dragged by police on the streets of Jantar Mantar (in Delhi),” he tweeted.

The reference was to shocking images of Ms Phogat being dragged away from a protest site in the national capital in May last year. Memories of that day were flagged Tuesday by fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia, who called her a “lioness (who was) kicked and crushed in her own country…”

140 करोड़ भारतवासी स्तब्ध हैं,
खेल इतिहास का यह “ब्लैक डे” है।

🫵 ये एक बहुत बड़ा “नफरती षड्यंत्र” है,

▪️पहले, कुश्ती संघ के अध्यक्ष, भाजपा के उस समय के मोदी जी के चहेते सांसद, बृजभूषण शरण सिंह ने देश की विश्व चैंपियन बेटी को शारीरिक व मानसिक प्रताड़नाओं से सताया,

▪️फिर… https://t.co/wAZreZdZP3pic.twitter.com/ZSjHgnFH5c

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) August 7, 2024

“This girl is going to conquer the world but she lost to the system in this country…”

Mr Surjewala’s strident post also contained four ‘questions’, including “who is the one who could not digest Vinesh Phogat’s victory”, suggesting the champion wrestler may have been sabotaged.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also responded, but with less controversial remarks. Mr Gandhi called the disqualification “unfortunate” while Mrs Gandhi Vadra said, “My sister… do not consider yourself alone… remember you will always be our champion.”

Electoral Impact?

This could also provide the Congress and others, specially the AAP, with welcome ammunition to attack the BJP in Haryana, the wrestler’s home state, ahead of an Assembly election later this year.

The Haryana government has urged against politicising the issue; Transport and Mines Minister Mool Chand Sharma hailed Ms Phogat as the “pride of our state…. country”. “The whole country is sad our daughter has been disqualified… but people should not do politics on this…” he said.

#WATCH | Paris: On Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from #ParisOlympics2024, Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda says, “The entire country is in shock. Our daughter had worked so hard to reach the finals. When athletes of the world were practising on wrestling mats,… pic.twitter.com/8a5jmh5xvk

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2024

The Congress – hoping to oust the BJP from the state, after a strong showing the April-June Lok Sabha election – hit back through five-time MP Deepender Singh Hooda. “Our daughter worked hard to reach the finals… when athletes were practising  she was sitting in protest to seek justice for Indian women in wrestling. She still made it to the finals. Where and how did things go wrong?”

“Conspiracy Vs Conspiracy”

The “conspiracy” tag, however, was lobbed back by another BJP leader – ex-boxer Vijender Singh, who claimed a conspiracy against India’s medal hopes by “people who are not happy to see India rise as a sporting nation”.

“I think it might be sabotage. 100 grams… you have got to be kidding me. Athletes can shed five to six kg overnight. It is difficult… but we know how to control hunger, thirst…” he said.

READ | “Phogat Can’t Make This Mistake, May Be Sabotage”: Vijender Singh

Mr Singh, a former Congress member, is the only Indian male boxer to win an Olympic medal. “And, when I say sabotage, I mean people who are not happy to see India rise as a sporting nation. This girl has been through so much, your heart breaks for her…”

With input from agencies

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