We have seen them win laurels for the country on the mat. But never did we imagine that we would see them sit on the mat for days together, demanding justice. And yet, that’s what is happening at the moment for the fourth straight day. India’s best wrestlers, led by Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat, are continuing their protest, demanding the ouster of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). If one thought January was an aberration, it clearly wasn’t, and the wrestlers are now determined to fight this to the very end.
Images of famous athletes sitting in dharna are being beamed live on television and digital platforms, and have become the talking point in the country. Images of athletes training on the roads have gone viral on social media, with the world looking at us in shock.
In all this, there is one loser, and that’s Indian sport. The charges are grave, and they need to be probed with urgency. At the same time, the committee that was formed needs proof to remove an elected president of a sports federation and recommend action. Add in the fact that Brij Bhushan Sharan is a six-time BJP MP, and an influential one, with elections due in Uttar Pradesh in a year’s time. Finally, there is also the Haryana-versus-UP angle for control of Indian wrestling.
The ministry and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) have both tried to solve the crisis. While the IOA led by PT Usha could have stepped in earlier, it is important that empathy is shown to the athletes and their concerns heard. The IOA president has now expressed her displeasure, saying that the wrestlers ought to have come to the IOA earlier and not taken to the streets. It isn’t the best portrayal of Indian sport, Usha has argued. The Asian Games are five months away, and it is essential for India that the athletes go back to the national camp and resume training.
Ministry could have averted wrestling deadlock
Usha, a woman herself, needs to step up. Solve the crisis. The ministry and IOA need to do everything they can to intervene and find a solution. The athletes too need to keep faith in the IOA and the ministry and do what they are good at, grappling. Both sides, it seems, aren’t willing to take a step back. It is ego that has taken centre stage. Usha’s statement has been met by Vinesh’s rejoinder. And the crisis is showing no signs of resolution.
It is clear from the IOA’s press release that no drastic action is on the cards. That’s what puts a question mark over a possible reconciliation. Is such a settlement feasible? Can these athletes and the federation co-exist peacefully going forward? Can Vinesh, Sakshi and Bajrang continue to work with the federation, or will careers be on the line?
The athletes have alleged that misconduct and harassment have been going on for years. Seven of them are even ready to file an First Information Report (FIR) with the police. A controversy as serious as this can leave a lasting impact on the mental health of these athletes, and it is the responsibility of the Ministry and the IOA to protect stars like Bajrang and Vinesh. Under no circumstances should they be victimised, and that’s something the IOA will need to ensure. While the media will move on to the next major issue, these athletes will need support in the future to continue with their careers.
At this point, nothing can be taken as certain. While the WFI president deserves a fair hearing, there is no reason to doubt the athletes’ integrity either. And if it turns out to be a case of one’s word against another’s, the committee tasked with investigating the matter will find it impossible to prove guilt.
That’s why all eyes will once again be on the Supreme Court on Friday, April 28. It will adjudicate on the athletes’ demand for an FIR against the WFI president, and decide on the way forward. In doing so, the court will have to ensure that the national interest is paramount. It will also have to be sensitive to the fact that these young men and women who have brought laurels for the country at the international level need to feel respected. It is the court’s decision that will now decide how the issue continues to play out in the days to come.