‘Will non-biological PM call her?’:Congress asks PM Modi about Vinesh Phogat’s triumph in Olympics

New Delhi: Vinesh Phogat’s historic Olympic semi-final victory has brought India a step closer to a medal, but it has also sparked a renewed political debate as Congress trained its guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking if he will call the athlete who protested against then-Wrestlers’ Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

While Phogat gears up for the gold medal match, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has raised a pointed question to PM Modi asking if PM Modi will call Vinesh and apologise for the “atrocious manner” in which the Delhi Police mishandled her during the wrestlers’ protest.

Ramesh wrote in his X post, “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 apologise for the atrocious manner in which the Delhi Police misbehaved with her during the women wrestlers protest?”

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This pointed inquiry refers to the disturbing events of 2023, when top Indian wrestlers, including Phogat, launched protests against the alleged sexual harassment and intimidation by the then-WFI chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The protests, which saw the wrestlers sit on demonstrations at Jantar Mantar and even attempt to throw their medals into the Ganges, witnessed police action which the opposition leaders condemned.

While the case against Singh is currently in the Rouse Avenue court in Delhi, the has criticised the BJP for failing to take action after prominent wrestlers such as Bajrang Punia and Ravi Dahiya had vocally raised concerns about the “dictatorial” leadership style of the six-time parliamentarian.

Several high-profile wrestlers in the country including Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat demanded action against Singh during long-stay protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar last year.

It is pertinent to mention that  Delhi Police jailed Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia Sakshi Malik and other protesting wrestlers for marching towards the new Parliament building – on the day of its inauguration. To register their protest the wrestlers travelled to Haridwar to throw their medals and trophies into the Ganges but were stopped by farmers’ leader Naresh Tikait.