From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday asked why silence by Prime Minister Modi on the alleged sexual harassment charge levelled by the wrestlers on his party’s Uttar Pradesh MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh (66), who is the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
Wrestlers refused to attend a coaching camp he had organised in Lucknow, complaining about his alleged sexual harassment with the girl wrestlers.
A day after the decorated wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik accused the WFI President of the Sexual harassment, the Congress on Friday slammed Prime Minister Narenra Modi over the allegations and asked if this is the “better environment for ports that has no political interference in sports.
Phogat had personally narrated the sexual harassment by the WFI president by meeting him with her family in October 2021. She said the PM remained mum as the MP continues to be the WFI chief with no action taken against him, nor any internal inquiry. Is this the pattern, she asked, noting that the ministers like Ajay Mishra Teni and this MP remain in the saddle.
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate told a Press conference hee that Vinesh Phogat had made the Prime Minister of the reality in October 2021 and even told him that there is threat to her life. She said Modi, however, kept quiet and took no action.
“The charge of sexual harassment has been levelled by the daughter whom Modi called his daughter. This daughter is saying today “no daughter should be born in India,” Shrinate asserted at an AICC press briefing. Joining her in condemning the WFI president were Boxer Vijender and Dr Krishna Punia.
Shrinate described the politicians heading various sports bodies against the government’s claim that there should be no political interference in sports. She reeled out half a dozen political leaders heading the sports bodies. Jay Shah, son of Home Minister Amit Shah, is the secretary of the BCCI, while Badminton Federation is headed by Himanta Biswa Sarma, Rifle Association chief is Raninder Singh, Archery Association head is Arjun Munda, Hockey Federation head Dilip Tirki and Table Tennis Federation chief Meghna Chautala.
