(Asian independent) The Indian Wrestling Federation has barred Vinesh Phogat from participating in wrestling competitions. This raises the question: does the Wrestling Federation exist for the wrestlers, or do wrestlers exist for the Federation? The Federation was created for the welfare and support of athletes. Yet its male office-bearers, who occupy their posts on questionable grounds, are deciding the future of a talented woman wrestler—who has already won medals in international competitions—merely through the power of their positions. Are they acting in the national interest, or simply following the dictates of some powerful individual to satisfy his ego and protect their own interests? The government and its Sports Ministry are silently watching the entire spectacle. The Sports Minister should resign simply because he appears helpless before the arbitrary functioning of the Wrestling Federation.
It is deeply shameful that, to prevent woman wrestler Vinesh Phogat from participating in competitions, a wrestling event was organized at the private college of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in Nandini Nagar, Gonda. Six women wrestlers have accused him of sexual harassment, and Vinesh Phogat has now openly stated that Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh raped her. For any survivor, it is humiliating to be forced to go to the doorstep of her alleged rapist. Yet Vinesh deserves admiration for her courage—she went to Gonda and fearlessly spoke out. Her husband also deserves appreciation for standing firmly by her side, including during the visit to Gonda. Vinesh says that she now draws strength for her struggle from her ten-month-old son.
Vinesh Phogat is being served a show-cause notice on charges of indiscipline, while the man accused of raping her is not even being questioned. Allegations are being made that at the Paris Olympics, on the day when Final was to be held, her weight exceeded the maximum limit of her category by 100 grams, because of which she was disqualified and the country was embarrassed. But to reach the finals, she had already wrestled several bouts in the same weight category. Only on the last day was she unable to maintain her weight. Is this really such a matter of national shame? Or is the real embarrassment the threat issued by United World Wrestling—the global governing body for wrestling—to suspend the Indian Wrestling Federation if elections were not held within 45 days because of the sexual harassment allegations against the then president of the Federation, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh? Perhaps no other recent incident has brought as much disrepute to India, Indian politics, and Indian sports globally as the conduct of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Experts do not consider Vinesh Phogat’s inability to reduce her weight on the Final day to be a major mistake. Some even argue that although she was denied the chance to compete, she should still have been awarded a silver medal for reaching the finals—especially since, in the process, she defeated a renowned Japanese wrestler who had never before lost an international match.
India suffered worldwide embarrassment because of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, yet ironically neither the Wrestling Federation nor the Sports Ministry ever issued him a show-cause notice for tarnishing the country’s image. Instead, when Brij Bhushan realized under international pressure that he could no longer remain president, he ensured that his own associate, Sanjay Singh, became president and maintained his control over the Federation. Despite serious allegations of sexual misconduct against women, Brij Bhushan didn’t even get a scratch. At the time the allegations emerged, he was a Member of Parliament. Now his son is a MP. The Union Government lacks the courage to take any action against him, let alone arrest him.
In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath claims that mafia rule has ended. Many alleged criminals are killed in police encounters or shot and injured even before charges against them are proven. The homes of several accused persons are demolished with bulldozers before guilt is established. Yet even the Uttar Pradesh government does not have the courage to act against Brij Bhushan even though he has publicly confessed to a murder.
The BJP speaks of respecting women. It raises slogans such as “Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter.” BJP Mahila Morcha leaders and workers are protesting outside the homes of opposition leaders over the issue of women’s reservation not approved in the Parliament, even though the actual intention of Bill was to increase the seats of Parliament. Yet BJP Mahila Morcha women have still not gone to Brij Bhushan’s residence. It is very clear that the BJP wants to protect him.
It is a matter of great shame for us that the country today has a government hostile to women, backed by a patriarchal organization. Definitions of sexual crimes against women are being weakened so that relief can be given to the accused or even to those already convicted. The rights of LGBTQIA community and especially the transgenders have also been diluted. Women cannot freely choose their life partners, especially in interfaith marriages. The BJP and RSS are taking us farther away from the constitutional ideal of equality and from the vision of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, who considered gender equality the most important aspect of his “Seven Revolutions.”
Author: Sandeep Pandey
