'To sell book, she sold her integrity': Babita Phogat responds to Sakshi Malik's charge about wrestlers' protest
'It was Babita Phogat who initially urged wrestlers to protest against Brij Bhushan': Sakshi Malik had claimed in an interview
PTC Web Desk: BJP leader Babita Phogat took a veiled jab at Olympic wrestler Sakshi Malik's recent claims regarding the wrestler's role in initiating the protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Babita indirectly referenced Sakshi Malik without naming her, insinuating that the allegations against her were fabricated to boost sales of Sakshi's new book. “Shine with your own character. How long will borrowed light last? Some got assembly seats, some got posts, and you got nothing. I understand your pain. To sell the book, she sold her integrity,” Babita wrote.
Sakshi Malik, alongside wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, led the protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief of sexually harassing female wrestlers during his tenure. The case is currently being heard in a Delhi court.
In an interview with India Today TV, Sakshi claimed that it was Babita Phogat who initially urged wrestlers to protest against Brij Bhushan, alleging that Babita had her own agenda of aspiring to become the WFI president. Sakshi also dispelled rumours about the Congress backing their protest, stating that two BJP leaders, Babita Phogat and Tirath Rana, helped them secure permission to protest in Haryana.
In her book, 'Witness', co-authored with journalist Jonathan Selvaraj, Sakshi Malik highlighted internal rifts in the protest, particularly criticising Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia for accepting exemptions from the Asian Games trials. She claimed that this move damaged the credibility of their protest, portraying it as "selfish." Sakshi further alleged that people close to Vinesh and Bajrang began influencing them with "greed," leading to cracks in the movement.
Vinesh Phogat responded to these claims by defending her intentions, saying that her actions were driven by concern for her "sisters." She questioned Sakshi’s accusations of greed, asserting, “If speaking for the sisters is greed, then I am greedy, and it’s a good greed. If this greed means winning an Olympic medal for the country, I embrace it.”
Bajrang Punia, on the other hand, downplayed any tension, stating that Sakshi's views were her own and that their friendship remained intact. “It’s her personal view. She was our friend and will continue to be. I cannot comment on what she has said,” Bajrang remarked.
Notably, both Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined the Congress party ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections. Vinesh Phogat contested from the Julana constituency and emerged victorious, defeating BJP candidate Yogesh Kumar. Meanwhile, Bajrang Punia was appointed as the head of Congress’s national farmers' unit.