New Delhi: As the wrestlers protest entered 11th day today, they had an unlikely guest on Wednesday in form of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) chief PT Usha.
PT Usha, one of India’s greatest wrestlers visited the Jantar Mantar today and met the group of grapplers on sit-in protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh.
Usha, the celebrated wrestler came under fire recently for her ‘tacit support’ to rape accused Brij Bhushan Singh as she was seen blaming the players & going soft on accused politician.
PT Usha, a Rajya Sabha member, had called out the wrestlers recently for hitting the streets with their stir rather than waiting for committee report. She had called the protests an act of ‘gross indiscipline’ and also said that such behavior by sportspersons was bringing bad name & reputation to the country.
#WATCH | Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha reached Delhi’s Jantar Mantar where wrestlers are protesting since 11 days. pic.twitter.com/Vs3Lp1ZHaO
— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2023
The wrestlers were not just perplexed & also livid with Ms Usha’s statement, saying they were hurt by her remarks.
“We feel hurt by PT Usha’s comment. She is not supporting us despite being a woman herself. What indiscipline have we done? We are sitting here peacefully. If we had got justice, we would not have done this,” wrestler Sakshi Malik had said.’
Vinesh Phogat had claimed that she had called up the veteran wrestler to discuss the issue but she did not take her call.
Meanwhile, country’s top wrestlers have maintained that they will stay put at the Jantar Mantar until Brij Bhushan, accused of rape & sexual misconducts allegedly by many women wrestlers is sent behind bars. After long hue & cry, the Delhi police registered 2 cases against him.
