This is a new low in Indian politics. It probably cannot get worse than this. The Congress today straightway accused the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the centre of a conspiracy to “deny” Vinesh Phogat the gold medal in Olympic wrestling.
Might sound unimaginable, but it is what happened. Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala addressed a press conference at the party headquarters suggesting that the BJP government at the centre would have had a problem if Phogat had won a gold medal, hence she was disqualified under a conspiracy.
Earlier during the day, the members belonging to the INDIA bloc staged a walkout from both houses of the parliament, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, to protest against the disqualification of Phogat from the Olympics for being overweight by 100 grams, as if it was the fault of the government of India.
It is not that the Congress and the other INDIA bloc leaders do not know the real reason for Phogat’s disqualification. But they do not mind putting the blame on the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, since it seems to cost them nothing. But they are wrong, it does cost them credibility. You cannot blame Modi for everything and accuse him of anything you want to.
Vinesh Phogat pleasantly surprised the entire nation on Tuesday when she defeated Yusneylys Guzman Lopez of Cuba in the semi-final in the 50 kg category to qualify for the finals.
However, the next day she weighed 100 grams more than 50 kg, the category she was contesting at this time.
Phogat had earlier been contesting in the 53 kg category. Since she failed to qualify in that category, she decided to switch to the 50 kg category. For that, she needed to lose weight and maintain it below 50 kg. Before the semifinal bout her weight was recorded below 50 kg only that allowed her to take the bout. To maintain a weight below 50 kg, it needs a lot of dietary restrictions.
Since she had to take the final fight, she would need a lot of energy for which she needed to have food. Despite her restricted diet, she crossed the 50 kg limit, although by just 100 grams, and got disqualified.
Another former Olympian wrestler Bajrang Punia in an interview with the BBC explained in detail the reason that led to her disqualification, saying it is very difficult to maintain low weight, particularly for women athletes.
It is not that the people in Congress or the other opposition parties do not know the actual reason for her disqualification. However, given Phogat’s last year’s protest against the then Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who at that time was a sitting BJP MP also, the Congress seized the opportunity to build up a link between the two.
Randeep Surjewala was quite unambiguous to suggest that Phogat was disqualified just because of those protests. He also said that people in power in India, obviously meaning the BJP, would have had problems with her winning the medal.
This, according to Surjewala, directly suggests that the government of India, the Wrestling Federation of India and the Indian Olympic Association were in league with those who disqualified Phogat. He gave too simplistic propositions to substantiate his charges.
Surjewala is a senior Congress leader from Haryana. The assembly elections in the state are likely to be held two months from now. No wonder, during the press conference he repeatedly reiterated that Phogat was the daughter of Haryana and it was an injustice with the daughter of Haryana and people will avenge it. Phogat comes from Haryana only.
Phogat getting disqualified for being just 100 grams over the required weight has disappointed and disheartened the entire nation, which was looking forward to her winning the gold medal. But rules are rules as they cannot be compromised.
However, the way the Congress and the other opposition parties tried to attribute a conspiracy angle and sought to blame the BJP government at the centre, not even sparing the Prime Minister Modi, left a bad taste. There needs to be some restraint and caution while hurling charges at political opponents.
Follow us
