‘Would Babita Phogat Sit With Those Who Exploited Her Family’: Smriti Irani On Wrestlers' Protest

Union minister Smriti Irani said that why would Vinesh Phogat's cousin Babita Phogat would go against her family and sit with people who exploited someone.

Union minister Smriti Irani speaks on wrestlers' protest issue

Source : PTI File Photo

Union minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday berated the wrestlers protesting against Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh saying why would Babita Phogat be with people who exploit someone. Wrestling champion Babita Phogat who joined Bharatiya Janata Party in 2019 is the cousin of Vinesh Phogat, also a wrestling champion, who is currently leading the protest along with Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik against Singh. 

In an interview with a television news channel, Irani asked why would Vinesh’s cousin sit with people who exploited her family members. 

“I was with Babita Phogat, 2-3 hours before this interview. Do you think a famous wrestler like Baibta Phogat would sit with people who would have exploited someone and that too people of her family,” she said. 

“Do you think Babita Phogat would go against her family?” 

She further said that an “independent probe is the only way by which these women (Vinesh and Sakshi) can be helped.”

On Wednesday, the Delhi police said that an investigation was underway in the matter and denied reports stating that police do not have sufficient evidence to arrest Singh. Union sports minister Anurag Thakur also urged the wrestlers to wait until the conclusion of the probe. 

On Tuesday, the grapplers had announced immersion of their medals into Ganga river at Haridwar but later changed their decision. 

Smriti Irani ‘Missing’, Says Congress 

The Congress party on Wednesday targeted the Union women and child development minister tweeting a poster of her with ‘Missing’ written over the top, alluding that the BJP leader has been silent on the sexual harassment allegations against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. 

गुमशुदा pic.twitter.com/oOHzdFJuQw

— Congress (@INCIndia) May 31, 2023

This comes after the party earlier alleged Irani of hiding replies to one of her tweets where the users asked question about the way police handled the wrestlers while detaining them on Sunday.