Rahul Gandhi's Visit to Haryana's Jhajjar 'Akhara' Spotlights Wrestling Controversy
Meet with wrestling Community: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi paid a visit to the "Virender Akhara" in Chhara village, Jhajjar district, Haryana, early on Wednesday. During his visit, Gandhi engaged with a group of wrestlers, including the renowned Bajrang Punia, at...
10:17 AM Dec 27, 2023 IST
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Preeti Dalal
Meet with wrestling Community: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi paid a visit to the "Virender Akhara" in Chhara village, Jhajjar district, Haryana, early on Wednesday. During his visit, Gandhi engaged with a group of wrestlers, including the renowned Bajrang Punia, at the akhara.
The meeting gains significance against the backdrop of an ongoing controversy within the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Recently, Vinesh Phogat, a two-time World Championship medal winner, made headlines by deciding to return her Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards to the Prime Minister. Phogat expressed that such honors had lost their meaning amid the struggles wrestlers face for justice.
Wrestling controversy
The controversy escalated further as Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia and Deafylmpics champion Virender Singh Yadav returned their Padma Shri awards, and Rio Games bronze medallist Sakshi Malik decided to step away from the sport. These decisions followed Sanjay Singh's election as WFI president on December 21.
A notable aspect of the controversy is the association of Sanjay Singh with Brij Bhushan Singh Sharan, an individual accused of sexual harassment by Phogat, Punia, and Malik. The wrestlers had previously staged a prolonged protest at Jantar Mantar earlier this year, expressing their opposition to Brij Bhushan's involvement in the WFI, particularly due to his proximity to BJP MP Sanjay Singh.
Rahul Gandhi's visit to the 'akhara' and interaction with wrestlers adds a political dimension to the ongoing turmoil within the wrestling community, shedding light on the broader issues of justice and integrity in sports governance. The controversy has sparked debates about the role of political affiliations in sports administration and the need for transparency and accountability in such organizations.
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