“The media supports Brij Bhushan more than the players. You see his criminal record. Does any player, sitting here, or players from other sports, have a criminal record?” Bajrang said during a media interaction.
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Accused of sexual harassment of wrestlers, the Chief WFI vowed to fight the charges and claimed the athletes’ protest was politically motivated.
Delhi Police have filed two FIRs, including one under the POCSO Act, against the BJP MP, who has completed 12 years as WFI chairman and is not eligible to return to office.
Tokyo Games medalist Bajrang also tried to point out that it is more difficult to win an Olympic medal than to become an MP in this country.
“Players win medals for the country, and he questions medalists. How many people become MPs in this country, and how many people win Olympic medals. To date, there are barely 40 Olympic medalists, and thousands became MPs,” Bajrang said.
Two-time World Championship medalist Vinesh Phogat has denied Brij Bhushan’s accusation that wrestlers are involved in politics, calling it baseless.
“We’re not involved in any politics. We speak straight from the heart and it connects, and that’s why so many people are sitting here supporting us.”
“I ask how can you give such a criminal a platform? Ask yourself. If you don’t, half the problems will be solved. This man always says things with a smile on his face. His ego is bigger than the Ravana (villain in the epic Ramayana),” Vinesh said, much to the amazement of the assembled media who have covered the protesting wrestlers since the players began their protest.
“If he comes out without fail in the Supreme Court order, you can daisy-chain him. He’s always daisy-chained. What did he do? When we win medals, we’re daisy-chained. He has exploited female athletes and he is being praised. I’m asking you not to give him that platform.”
Brij Bhushan claimed that the wrestlers wanted to take over the WFI and hence the protest was happening and only one family (Phogats) was behind the protest. Bajrang countered the charge.
“If you have to be in WFI, you have to be in a state association. We don’t want to control WFI. His son is president of the UP association and the secretary is his son’s brother-in-law. His son-in-law is also a member of the state association. He accuses us of ‘parivaarwaad’ when in fact that is what is happening in his case,” Bajrang said.
The wrestlers complained about the non-cooperation of the authorities, whom they accused of cutting off electricity and water at night.
When asked if the situation had improved, Vinesh fired back, saying, “Are you staying here overnight? I ask you all to stay here and then I will ask you how much the authorities are helping us.
(With PTI entries)
