Protesting Wrestlers: Babita Phogat Betrayed Us

“Babita encouraged us to sit on the dharna and then betrayed us,” the wrestler claims.

After the wrestlers returned to the Jantar Mantar for a second sit-in protest, two-time world champion Vinesh Phogat earlier slammed her cousin and BJP leader Babita.

Protesting Wrestlers: Babita Phogat Betrayed Us

Babita Phogat betrayed protesting wrestlers

“Forget others, we got dumped by our sister Babita Phogat,” allegedly yelled a wrestler at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi during a protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

An anonymous wrestler’s statement

“She first ordered us to stand in a dharna (in January of this year) and requested that no political figures appear on the podium. We acknowledged her every order and urged every politician not to connect us, but she (Babita) politicized everything for her selfish gain, betrayed us, and left us here alone,” the wrestler said on condition of anonymity.

“That was the demoralizing aspect of our struggle for justice. But we are aware that the whole country is with us. Our truth is with us.”

Vinesh Phogat slammed Babita earlier

After the wrestlers returned to the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi for a second sit-in protest, two-time world champion Vinesh Phogat earlier slammed her cousin and BJP leader Babita Phogat.

Vinesh stated, “Babita was more concerned with advancing her career in politics than the welfare of the wrestlers.”

Babita acts as a mediator during the first protest.

When the wrestlers initially staged a sit-in protest at the Jantar Mantar in January, Babita assumed the role of the mediator.

Also Read | Wrestler’s Protest At Jantar Mantar Against BJP MP : SC Asks Delhi Police Why No FIR?

The government formed a committee

The government had formed an oversight committee, led by legendary boxer MC Mary Kom, to investigate the allegations made by the wrestlers, including Vinesh, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia.

Radhica (the former CEO of Target Olympic Podium Scheme), Yogeshwar Dutt (a former wrestler), Trupti Murgunde (a former badminton player), and Rajesh Rajagopalan were also on the panel.

Later, at the protesting wrestlers’ urging, Babita was added to the government investigation committee to investigate the claims.

Panel’s Decision

On April 5, the panel delivered its report. According to reports in the media, the committee gave Brij Bhushan a “clean chit.”

However, the most recent protest by wrestlers may prompt the government to reconsider the situation and make a swift decision to address it.