New Delhi: Former wrestler and Dronacharya Awardee Mahavir Phogat issued a strong warning for the BJP-headed Central government on Thursday.
Amid the protest by leading Indian wrestlers against national federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Mahavir said people of the country will drive out the BJP-helmed Central government, like they did with the British.
“The condition of the daughters cannot be seen. The people of the country will drive away the government like they drove away the British,” Mahavir said.
Speaking at Balali, his village in Haryana, Mahavir lauded the support extended to the wrestlers by farmers and the intervention by their leader Rakesh Tikait.
“The farmer leaders understood the feelings of our daughters and now the whole country will unite and turn this into a decisive movement,” said the father of Phogat sisters and uncle of Vinesh Phogat.
Phogat Senior expressed confidence that from village panchayats to khaps and social and farmer organisations, the people of India will witness a massive movement.
“I made my daughters worthy of medals by risking everything. Today their condition cannot be seen. Sadly, the players had to take the decision to throw their medals into the Ganga. Farmer leaders understood their sentiments and now the whole country will unite in such a way that the government will have to bow down. If the government does not take initiative in this matter, then the people of the country will drive it away like they did the British,” Mahavir said.
The wrestlers are demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan, against whom seven of them – including a minor – have filed cases of sexual harassment.
Phogat Sr feared given what is happening with female wrestlers, girls will stop wrestling. The future of junior players is now unsure, he added.
“Now such a movement will begin that the government will have to bow down and Brij Bhushan will go to jail,” he asserted.
