Babita Phogat Slams Sakshee Malikkh, Labels Her a “Puppet in the Hands of Congress”
18-06-2023 : Wrestler and BJP leader Babita Phogat has lashed out at wrestler Sakshee Malikkh and her husband Satyawart Kadian for releasing a video claiming that their protest against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief was not politically motivated. Phogat accused them of being a “puppet in the hands of Congress” and criticized their choice of seeking support from Congress leaders.
In the video, Malikkh emphasized that their protest was not supported by Congress and that it was aimed at addressing the misdeeds of the WFI chief. She stated that wrestlers had remained silent for years due to lack of unity and highlighted the challenges faced by wrestlers from poor backgrounds in standing up against powerful individuals.
The protest by the wrestlers, demanding the arrest of the WFI chief, faced criticism with accusations that it was politically motivated. However, Kadian, in the video, refuted these claims by mentioning that the permission for their initial protest at Jantar Mantar was obtained through two BJP leaders, Tirath Rana and Babita Phogat. He argued that it was unlikely for their protest to be orchestrated by Congress if the permission was granted by BJP leaders.
Phogat, in response, tweeted that she felt sad and laughed when watching the video of her sister and brother-in-law. She clarified that her signature or name was not present on the permission paper shown in the video, highlighting the lack of evidence of her consent. Phogat also mentioned that she had advised the wrestlers from the beginning to have faith in the Prime Minister and the judicial system, as she believed the truth would eventually come out. She criticized the wrestlers for seeking solutions from Congress leaders such as Priyanka Gandhi and Deepender S. Hooda, who themselves were implicated in cases of rape and other crimes.
एक कहावत है कि
ज़िंदगी भर के लिये आपके माथे पर कलंक की निशानी पड़ जाए।
बात ऐसी ना कहो दोस्त की कह के फिर छिपानी पड़ जाएँ ।
मुझे कल बड़ा दुःख भी हुआ और हँसी भी आई जब मैं अपनी छोटी बहन और उनके पतिदेव का विडीओ देख रही थी , सबसे पहले तो मैं ये स्पष्ट कर दूँ की जो अनुमति का काग़ज़… https://t.co/UqDMAF0qap— Babita Phogat (@BabitaPhogat) June 18, 2023
Phogat further criticized the wrestlers for embarrassing the country through their actions. She highlighted their protest during the inauguration of the new Parliament and their decision to immerse medals won for the nation in the Ganges, stating that it brought shame to the country. She urged them to reveal their true intentions behind the protest and accused them of becoming puppets in the hands of Congress.
In the video released by Kadian, he mentioned that the police brutality they faced on May 28 deeply affected them. The police had detained and pushed them into buses after they organized a protest march to the new Parliament during its inauguration. Kadian clarified that the call for the ‘Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat’ (Women’s Dignity Grand Gathering) was made by Khap leaders, and they followed their orders. He expressed the emotional turmoil they experienced and how their dignity, as individuals who had won medals for the country, was being trampled upon. Kadian explained that they had initially planned to immerse the medals in Haridwar but refrained from doing so to prevent potential violence. Instead, they handed the medals over to coaches and parents.
Kadian also mentioned that they were under immense stress and did not fully comprehend if there was a conspiracy against them. They were unsure about whom to trust and sought advice from various individuals, eventually being advised to meet the Home Minister to present their viewpoint.
The Delhi Police has filed a charge sheet against WFI Chief Brij Bhushan for offenses of sexual harassment and stalking, which adds to the context of the wrestlers’ protest against the WFI chief.
