Shashi Tharoor to PT Usha for remarks on protesting wrestlers: ‘…in face of sexual harassment'

Shashi Tharoor expressed his disappointment after PT Usha claimed wrestlers lacked discipline as they protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is the latest politician to express his disappointment a day after Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha claimed that the wrestlers lacked discipline as they hit the streets to resume their protest against Wrestling Federation of Indian (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh instead of approaching them.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. ((Anshuman Poyrekar/HT File Photo))

"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 told reporters after the sports body's executive committee meeting.

Asked if the IOA would reach out to the wrestlers since they are adamant that they would not leave the protest site until their demands are met, Usha shot back by saying, "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."

Reacting to Usha's comments, Tharoor on Friday tweeted, “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.”

India's top wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik are the three central characters in the renewed protests against WFI president, who has been accused of sexual harassment and intimidation by the grapplers.

The IOA is yet to complete its investigation into the allegations while the government-formed oversight panel's findings have not been made public as yet.

Earlier, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra slammed Usha for alleging that the wrestlers were “tarnishing India's image”. Moitra asked whether the damaging allegations against a lawmaker of the ruling party and the Delhi Police's refusal to register a case “makes India smell of roses.”

“Wrestlers protesting on streets tarnishing India's image says @PTUshaOfficial” Moitra wrote on Twitter. “So ruling party MP chairing WFI for years accused of molestation & abuse of power against who @DelhiPolice refuses to lodge FIR in spite of SC order makes India smell of roses, does it?” she said, adding the hashtag ‘StopCrawling’.

Neeraj Chopra extends support to protesting wrestlers

Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra extended his support to the protesting wrestlers and called for “quick action” from the authorities in order to ensure that justice is served.

Chopra expressed his disappointment after Usha came down heavily on the wrestlers.

Ace javelin thrower Chopra, who scripted history by winning India's first-ever gold medal in athletics at the Olympics, said "it hurts" to see the wrestlers taking to the street in search of justice.