Olympian Babita Phogat At Wrestlers' Big Protest As Centre's 'Messenger'
NDTV
"I am a wrestler first.The BJP government is with the wrestlers. I will make sure that action is taken today itself," Babita Phogat said.
Wrestler and BJP leader Babita Phogat today met fellow wrestlers protesting over sexual harassment allegations against key members of the country's top wrestling body and assured them swift action.
Ms Phogat reached Delhi's Jantar Mantar where 200-odd wrestlers, including Olympians Vinesh Phogat, Sakshee Malikkh and Bajrang Punia, with a "message from the government".
A three-time Commonwealth Games medallist and an Olympian, Ms Phogat is the youngest of Phogat sisters whose lives inspired the Bollywood movie 'Dangal'. Now an office-bearer in BJP's youth wing Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, she addressed the protesting wrestlers at the protest site today. "I am a wrestler first. The BJP government is with the wrestlers. I will make sure that action is taken today itself. I am a wrestler, and I am in the government as well, so it is my responsibility to mediate."
Amid the damning allegations against top office-bearers of the federation, including president Brij Bhushan Charan Singh, and senior coaches, Ms Phogat said, "I have heard instances of abuse in my career as well. There is no smoke without fire. These voices are important."
