NEW DELHI: The Parliament session on Wednesday was all about Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification at the Olympics. It turned into a political storm in the House, with opposition parties talking about sabotage and questioning officials for their alleged failure to save the wrestler from slipping up on the protocol and challenge her subsequent disqualification.
Both Houses witnessed heated exchanges between opposition and treasury benches over Vinesh, while Parliament’s corridors resonated with disappointment and conspiracy theories on how the govt did not do enough for the celebrated wrestler, who had embarrassed BJP last year by accusing national wrestling body chief Brijbhushan Saran Singh, then a BJP MP, of sexual harassment and launching a long sit-in protest.
Sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya faced opposition ire when he made a statement in Lok Sabha, yielding to demands for a clarification from govt. He narrated how the Centre had provided every possible help to the wrestler and gave details of the amount of funds that the govt spent on her to be at the Olympics.
Congress members Gaurav Gogoi, Deepender Hooda and Shafi Parambil protested and asked why govt was providing details of funds spent on Vinesh rather than giving reasons for failing to challenge the disqualification.
Parambil said, “I don’t think it was right on the part of govt to quote the amount spent on her practice when the whole world was listening. This is not BJP leaders’ personal wealth. It’s the money of the people.” Criticising the mention of the amount spent by govt on Vinesh’s training, Congress, SP, TMC, DMK as well as independent member Pappu Yadav, Hanuman Beniwal (RLP) and Chandrashekhar Azad walked out.
In Rajya Sabha, TMC MP Derek O’Brien hinted at a “conspiracy” behind Vinesh’s disqualification. Expressing solidarity with Vinesh, “who went through a lot”, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi urged IOA to strongly contest the wrestler’s case, even as party MP Randeep Surjewala alleged “conspiracy” behind the disqualification of the wrestler who he said was a victim of BJP.
Rahul said, “It is unfortunate that Vinesh, India’s pride, was disqualified on technical grounds. We have full hope that IOA will strongly challenge this decision and provide justice to the daughter of the country.”
Kharge added, “From protesting on the footpaths for justice to reaching the pinnacle podium of the Olympics…. it is extremely distressing… what she must be going through.”
Surjewala alleged Vinesh was disqualified as part of a conspiracy and the answer to the plot lay in the question — “who could not digest the victory of Vinesh?”
Both Houses witnessed heated exchanges between opposition and treasury benches over Vinesh, while Parliament’s corridors resonated with disappointment and conspiracy theories on how the govt did not do enough for the celebrated wrestler, who had embarrassed BJP last year by accusing national wrestling body chief Brijbhushan Saran Singh, then a BJP MP, of sexual harassment and launching a long sit-in protest.
Sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya faced opposition ire when he made a statement in Lok Sabha, yielding to demands for a clarification from govt. He narrated how the Centre had provided every possible help to the wrestler and gave details of the amount of funds that the govt spent on her to be at the Olympics.
Congress members Gaurav Gogoi, Deepender Hooda and Shafi Parambil protested and asked why govt was providing details of funds spent on Vinesh rather than giving reasons for failing to challenge the disqualification.
Parambil said, “I don’t think it was right on the part of govt to quote the amount spent on her practice when the whole world was listening. This is not BJP leaders’ personal wealth. It’s the money of the people.” Criticising the mention of the amount spent by govt on Vinesh’s training, Congress, SP, TMC, DMK as well as independent member Pappu Yadav, Hanuman Beniwal (RLP) and Chandrashekhar Azad walked out.
In Rajya Sabha, TMC MP Derek O’Brien hinted at a “conspiracy” behind Vinesh’s disqualification. Expressing solidarity with Vinesh, “who went through a lot”, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi urged IOA to strongly contest the wrestler’s case, even as party MP Randeep Surjewala alleged “conspiracy” behind the disqualification of the wrestler who he said was a victim of BJP.
Rahul said, “It is unfortunate that Vinesh, India’s pride, was disqualified on technical grounds. We have full hope that IOA will strongly challenge this decision and provide justice to the daughter of the country.”
Kharge added, “From protesting on the footpaths for justice to reaching the pinnacle podium of the Olympics…. it is extremely distressing… what she must be going through.”
Surjewala alleged Vinesh was disqualified as part of a conspiracy and the answer to the plot lay in the question — “who could not digest the victory of Vinesh?”