Ace wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia – who have been protesting on the streets over sexual harassment allegations against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh – hit out at Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha’s comment against their protests on Thursday. The wrestlers criticised Usha by saying that “being a woman, she isn’t listening to other woman athletes”.
Earlier in the day, PT Usha, who is also a nominated member of Rajya Sabha said that the “wrestlers staging protest on streets amounts to indiscipline” and that they are “tarnishing the image of India”.
To this, wrestler Sakshi Malik said, “We have been inspired by her before but she’s saying this despite being a woman. There is no indiscipline here…we are sitting here peacefully.”
Meanwhile, Vinesh Phogat said, “Firstly, we are citizens of a democratic India. We can come and go anywhere. If we are sitting on the street then there must be a reason. When no one heard us, we are coming in front of the people of India.”
“We used to consider PT Usha as a big icon…the comment was insensitive. I had personally called her about the issue, but she did not even pick up. If this would have happened to her, would she have waited for this long? She should ask herself. She has herself cried in front of the media regarding IOA…If she can’t bring justice to her own academy, what will she do for us?” Phogat added.
Earlier, wrestler Bajrang Punia, who is also protesting on the streets, said that he “did not expect such a harsh response from the IOA President”. “We expected support from her,” he added.
The protests by the wrestlers first broke out in January, accusing the WFI chief of sexual harassment and intimidation. They resumed their protests last week at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar demanding that an FIR be registered and a thorough probe be conducted by police against Sharan.
