Wrestlers have been protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar
Indian Olympic Association chief PT Usha has strongly criticised the public protest by wrestlers over alleged sexual harassment by Wrestling Federation India boss Brijbhushan Sharan Singh. Mr Singh, a BJP MP, has denied the allegations and indicated he will fight fiercely to prove he is innocent.
Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Punia have been protesting against Mr Singh and demanding the government to take action on their complaint. They have also written to Ms Usha to act on the matter urgently.
Ms Usha, however, criticised the wrestlers for not waiting for the report of a committee that is looking into their allegations to come out before deciding to sit on a public protest in Delhi. She said the protest "amounts to indiscipline".
"The players should not have protested on the streets. They should have at least waited for the report of the committee. What they have done is not good for the game and the country. It is a negative approach," Ms Usha said.
Responding to Ms Usha, the wresters said they are hurt by her comments as they looked up to her for support.
"We feel hurt by PT Usha's comment. She is not supporting us despite being a woman herself. What indiscipline have we done? We are sitting here peacefully. If we had got justice, we would not have done this," wrestler Sakshi Malik told reporters today.
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat alleged he dialled Ms Usha to discuss their matter, but she did not answer his call. "... We don't know whether she is under some kinds of pressure," he said.
Bajrang Punia, who is also on protest, said they have been waiting for three months for justice.
Wrestlers have been protesting against Wrestling Federation India boss Brijbhushan Sharan Singh over alleged sex harassment
Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had formed the committee to look into the allegations against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and its chief Mr Singh. The committee, which was told to give a report to the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry, had given it on April 5. But the ministry has not yet made public the findings of the six-member committee.
"The Narendra Modi government has done excellent work for sportspersons in the country. The government spends a lot to help sportspersons. Some 3,000 players get Rs 5 lakh on their boarding, lodging and training. They also get Rs 1.20 lakh for personal expenses," Mr Thakur told reporters today.
"Some wrestlers were sitting at Jantar Mantar (in Delhi). Who spoke to them? I left all my programmes in Himachal Pradesh and heard them for 12 hours. Seven hours one day, over five hours the next day. We did a press conference late at night. We made a committee... The Narendra Modi government is very clear about standing with the players and helping them. For us, the priorities are the sports and the players. We won't compromise with them," Mr Thakur said.
The protesting wrestlers had also asked PM Modi for a meeting with him to discuss the sex harassment allegations against the BJP MP who heads the WFI.
"PM Modi sir talks about 'Beti Bachao' and 'Beti Padhao' and listens to everyone's 'mann ki baat'. Can't he listen to our 'mann ki baat'? He invites us to his home when we win medals and gives us a lot of respect and calls us his daughters. Today, we appeal to him that he listens to our 'mann ki baat'," Rio Games bronze medallist Sakshi Malik told reporters.
The WFI chief in a video message alluding to the allegations against him indicated he will fight the wrestlers to prove them wrong.
"Friends, the day I reflect on my life, what I gained or lost, the day I feel I don't have the strength to fight, the day I feel helpless, I won't like to live a life like that. Instead of living such a life, I would wish that death embraces me," Mr Singh said.
The athletes resumed their protest against the WFI chief on Sunday, three months after they ended a similar protest.