Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik And Political Heads Criticise PT Usha's Comments On Protesting Wrestlers

PT Usha’s statements on Wednesday criticizing wrestlers for protesting on the streets have disappointed and angered many Indians. (More Sports News)

Far from offering support to the wrestlers, the Indian track and field legend and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President said the wrestlers were bringing a bad name to the sport and the nation by going to the streets rather than approaching the IOA. Usha did not take into consideration the wrestlers’ stand that they had approached the IOA, among other agencies, and only when they did not see any action for about three months did they stage a protest again. 

Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia are fighting for legal action against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, whom they have accused of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation. Brij Bhushan is also a BJP MP. 

On Wednesday, after the IOA’s executive committee meeting, Usha told reporters, "Our feeling is that for sexual harassment complaints, IOA has a committee and athletes' commission. Instead of going to the street (again), they should have come to us, but they have not at all come to IOA. This kind of agitation is not good for the country’s image and amounts to indiscipline. We want to be with any athlete who has represented India, but under the rules, regulations and law of the land.”

Usha added, "Thoda toh discipline hona chahiye (there should be some discipline). Instead of coming to us they have gone straight to the streets. It's not good for sport. Our feeling is that for sexual harassment complaints, IOA has a committee and athletes' commission. Instead of going to the street (again), they should have come to us, but they have not at all come to IOA."

Usha's statements did not go down well with the protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar, nor with many observers and well-wishers of Indian sport.

Sakshi Malik said, “We feel hurt by P.T. Usha’s comments. She is not supporting us despite being a woman herself. What indiscipline have we committed? We are sitting here peacefully. If we had got justice, we would not have done this.”

Phogat said she had tried speaking to Usha on the phone. But she did not take her call. 

Bajrang Punia called PT Usha’s statement "shocking". He said, "She herself was an athlete and she is also a woman. We did not expect this harsh reaction from her, we expected support.” 

Punia also said that when Usha had a grievance about encroachment at her academy in Balussery, Kerala, she too had gone public with her story. “She cried in front of media and tweeted about the issue. At that time the country’s image was not considered. She too could have quietly approached relevant authorities.”  

Rival party politicians took to Twitter to criticize Usha's comments. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi posted, "Country’s image is tarnished when we have MPs accused of sexual harassment going scot free while the victims have to struggle for justice. Am sorry Ma’m (sic) we must collectively speak up for our sportswomen not accuse them of tarnishing image when they are the ones who won laurels for our country and gave us reasons to be proud!"

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor too slammed Usha's comments via Twitter. He posted, "Dear @PTUshaOfficial, it is does not become you to disparage the justified protests of your fellow sportspersons in the face of repeated & wanton sexual harassment. Their standing up for their rights does not “tarnish the image of the nation”. Ignoring their concerns — instead of hearing them out, investigating them & taking just action — does."