'Hope You Will Not Just Use Women As Shields': Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik Ask PM Modi To Remove People Like Brij Bhushan From Sports Institutions

Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik's plea to the PM comes after IOA's decision to hand back wrestling's administrative control in the country back to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to do something in order to do something to remove someone like Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh from position of power within the sporting fraternity. Their plea to the Prime Minister comes after Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) decision to hand back wrestling's administrative control in the country back to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The ad hoc body which had the administrative control stands dissolved.

"The Prime Minister is a spin master, knows how to spin the issue by invoking ‘women power’ to counter the speeches of his rivals. Narendra Modi ji, let us also know the real truth of women power," Vinesh, a World Wrestling Championships medallist, posted on X (formerly Twitter).

"Brij Bhushan, who exploited women wrestlers, has again taken over wrestling. It is hoped that you (PM) will not just use women as shields, but will also do something to oust such oppressors from the sports institutions of the country," she added.

Sakshi Malik Alleges WFI Office-Bearers Acting As if They Are Above Law

Meanwhile, Sakshi Malik has alleged that the WFI Office-bearers have been acting as if they are above law.

"History is witness to the fact that powerful people in this country have played with the honour of women for centuries," she wrote in her post on X.

"…the rich miscreant is so powerful that he is above the government, the Constitution and the judiciary. After the government suspended the wrestling association, Brij Bhushan and Sanjay Singh kept giving statements that this suspension is just a show, we will be reinstated after a few days and we will have control over the wrestling association forever. This proved to be true and this letter from the Indian Olympic Association officially confirmed this and proved that even in this new India, the age-old tradition of insulting women will continue," she added.

Notably, Sanjay Singh, who is a close associate of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the BJP MP who was accused of sexually harassing women athletes during his stint as the President of the body, will take charge as the Wrestling Federation of India.