BJP's Babita Phogat Planned Wrestlers' Protest To Become WFI President, Claims Sakshi Malik

Olympic wrestler Sakshi Malik recently alleged that BJP leader Babita Phogat called wrestlers for a meeting to initiate protests against the Wrestling Federation of India's (WFI) alleged misconduct. In an interview with a senior journalist from India Today on October 21, 2024, Malik claimed that Phogat's motivations for rallying the wrestlers were tied to her desire to replace Brij Bhushan Singh as the president of the WFI. This revelation has sparked discussions about integrity and motives in the wrestling community, highlighting potential discrepancies within the sport.

Sakshi Malik Claims That Babita Phogat Planned The Protest

India Today quoted Sakshi Malik as saying, “Babita Phogat approached us with the idea of protesting against Brij Bhushan Singh because she had her own agenda - she wanted to become the WFI president. There are rumours that Congress supported our protest, but that’s false. In fact, two BJP leaders helped us secure permission to protest in Haryana - Babita Phogat and Tirath Rana.”

About Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Wrestlers' Protest

व्यक्ति से बड़ा दल और दल से बड़ा देश
यही है मेरी पार्टी का सभी को संदेश!!

*मैं अपने भारतीय जनता पार्टी के शीर्ष नेतृत्व के निर्णय के साथ खड़ी हूं।* पार्टी की एक समर्पित कार्यकर्ता होने के लिहाज से संगठन द्वारा दी गई हर जिम्मेदारियों का आगे भी निर्वहन करूंगी। मैं अपने विधानसभा… pic.twitter.com/f3nG2A1KWc

— Babita Phogat (@BabitaPhogat) September 6, 2024

The protests began in early 2023 when several top Indian wrestlers came forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The athletes, including medalists like Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, rallied together, demanding justice and accountability. The protests gained major media attention, highlighting the need for reform within the WFI and the protection of athletes' rights. The protest concluded when police stopped the wrestlers' march toward the new Parliament Building on May 28, 2023.  

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Sakshi Malik’s Allegations

Amidst this, Sakshi Malik's recent claims have shifted the focus from the allegations against Singh to internal rivalries within the wrestling community. According to Malik, Babita Phogat's motivations for participating in the protests were less about justice and more about positioning herself to take over as the WFI president.

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In the India Today interview, Sakshi Malik noted that although the protest wasn't solely driven by Babita Phogat, it was initiated by her suggestion. She stated, “It's not that we blindly followed her, but we were aware that there were serious issues like sexual harassment and molestation within the federation. We believed that having a woman in charge, especially someone like Babita Phogat, who is also a sportsperson, would bring positive change. We trusted that she would understand our struggles. But we never anticipated that she would play such a big game with us.”

This revelation has caused a stir among wrestling fans, leading to intense discussions about the ethical responsibilities of athletes in leadership roles. 

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Image credit: Twitter