Shashi Tharoor stated wrestlers standing up for his or her rights doesn’t “tarnish the picture of nation”. (File)
New Delhi:
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor at the moment slammed the nation’s Olympics physique chief PT Usha for criticising the wrestlers’ public protest over alleged sexual misconduct by the wrestling physique head.
Ms Usha had stated the wrestlers’ protest “quantities to indiscipline” and slammed them for not ready for the report by a committee that’s wanting into the costs in opposition to Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has denied any wrongdoing.
Expensive @PTUshaOfficial, it’s doesn’t develop into you to disparage the justified protests of your fellow sportspersons within the face of repeated & wanton sexual harassment. Their standing up for his or her rights doesn’t “tarnish the picture of the nation”. Ignoring their considerations — as an alternative of…
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 28, 2023
“Expensive @PTUshaOfficial, it’s doesn’t develop into you to disparage the justified protests of your fellow sportspersons within the face of repeated & wanton sexual harassment. Their standing up for his or her rights doesn’t “tarnish the picture of the nation”. Ignoring their considerations – as an alternative of listening to them out, investigating them & taking simply motion – does,” the Thiruvananthapuram MP tweeted.
His comment got here a day after PT Usha, a celebrated former athlete and Rajya Sabha member who heads the Indian Olympic Affiliation, strongly criticised the wrestlers’ protest as a “adverse method” that’s “tarnishing” the nation’s picture.
“The gamers mustn’t have protested on the streets. They need to have not less than waited for the report of the committee. What they’ve accomplished isn’t good for the sport and the nation. It’s a adverse method,” she had stated.
One other politician, Priyanka Chaturvedi of the Uddhav Thackeray camp, additionally differed with Ms Usha’s comment.
Nation’s picture is tarnished when now we have MPs accused of sexual harassment going scot free whereas the victims need to battle for justice.
Am sorry Ma’m we should collectively converse up for our sportswomen not accuse them of tarnishing picture when they’re those who received laurels… pic.twitter.com/Gp9mCA1ZVc— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) April 28, 2023
“Nation’s picture is tarnished when now we have MPs accused of sexual harassment going scot free whereas the victims need to battle for justice. Am sorry Ma’m we should collectively converse up for our sportswomen not accuse them of tarnishing picture when they’re those who received laurels for our nation and gave us causes to be proud,” she tweeted.
Ms Usha’s assertion evoked a immediate response from among the many protesting wrestlers, who stated they had been harm by her feedback as they had been wanting as much as her for help. That they had additionally written to her to behave on the matter.
The wrestlers’ protest has seen political leaders making a beeline to their venue after they returned to the streets alleging no motion was taken on their prices.
That they had first taken to the streets in January over the alleged sexual misconduct prices, however withdrew their protest following an assurance by Sports activities Minister Anurag Thakur. They’ve additionally moved the Supreme Courtroom for an pressing listening to and are set to be heard at the moment.
The protesters embrace star wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Punia.