New Delhi: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited the protesting wrestlers in Jantar Mantar on Saturday morning, extending her solidarity to their cause, Hindustan Times reported.
She, who met the protesters amid her plans to visit Karnataka to attend election campaigns, demanded a copy of the sexual harassment FIR filed against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is also a BJP leader.
Priyanka interacted with the women wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat.
Priyanka said that she is not expecting anything from Prime Minister Narendra Modi since he has not responded to the woes of the wrestlers, although the metro allegations are being levelled against a leader of his own party. She said that the PM invites them for tea when they win medals. If he had real concerns over them, he would have at least spoken to them, she said. “So talk to them; they are our girls,” HT quoted Priyanka.
Further, she wondered why the FIR is kept veiled, and Brij Bhushan is being protected by the government. She said that the public praised the wrestlers and tweeted about them when they won medals, but now they are sitting on the road for justice. She reminded me that it took a lot for them to reach where they are in their career.
According to her, Singh should be removed from office, asking the government to do so, so that no more careers are spoiled.
On Wednesday, Priyanka slammed the government over the issue through her tweets. She said that the arrogance of BJP and its leaders crushes India’s ‘voices of pride’. Sports sponsors deserve to be honoured, and their victory is the country’s victory.
She continued that the victory of women athletes is bigger than others. Now they are sitting on the road next to Parliament while everyone ignores their complaints against exploitation, which has been going on for a long time, she had tweeted.