'Will Modi call Vinesh?': Congress reacts to Paris Olympics victory
The Congress took a jab at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioning if he would congratulate wrestler Vinesh Phogat following her historic semi-final victory at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday night. Phogat became the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic wrestling final after defeating Cuba's Yusneylys Guzman 5-0 in the semi-final. Earlier, in the quarterfinals, she also triumphed over Tokyo 2020 champion Yui Susaki of Japan, handing the Japanese wrestler her first loss in 82 international matches.
'Will PM call Vinesh to apologize...': Jairam Ramesh
In an X post, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "Vinesh Phogat is assured of a silver or a gold medal at Paris. Will the non-biological PM call her? To congratulate her, of course, but more importantly to apologize for the atrocious manner in which the Delhi Police misbehaved with her during the women wrestlers' protest?" To recall, Ramesh was referring to the 2023 protest by top Indian wrestlers against the then-Wrestlers' Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Read: Ramesh's post here
2023 protest against WFI chief
Singh, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member, faced accusations of sexual harassment from female wrestlers. The 67-year-old has led the WFI since 2012. Besides allegations of harassment and mental abuse, prominent wrestlers like Bajrang Punia and Ravi Dahiya have openly criticized his "dictatorial" leadership style. Last year, top wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik and Phogat, staged two long protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, demanding action against Singh.
Delhi Police detained wrestlers on way to Parliament building
In May 2023, the Delhi Police detained Phogat, Punia, Malik, and others during their march to the new Parliament building on its inauguration day. Following this incident, the wrestlers headed to Haridwar with the intention of throwing their medals into the Ganges. However, they were persuaded to stop at the last moment by farmers' leader Naresh Tikait.
Charges framed against Singh
Notably, on July 11, 2024 the Rouse Avenue court in Delhi ordered the trial and recording of prosecution witnesses' statements in the sexual harassment case against Singh. The court framed charges of sexual harassment, intimidation, and outraging the modesty of women, stating there was enough evidence against him. Singh has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Phogat's journey to the Olympics
Phogat's journey to the Olympic final was fraught with challenges, including her involvement in protests against Singh and a knee injury that kept her out of the Asian Games. Despite these setbacks, she made a successful return to wrestling, securing her spot for the Paris Olympics by reaching the final at the Asian Olympic qualifier. Her performance in the women's 50kg freestyle wrestling event has guaranteed India at least a silver medal at the Paris Olympics.
