It’s no secret that the wrestling protests in India have recently become a major topic of public debate. The dissenters’ credibility, once firm, is now on shaky ground, with the protesters resorting to whataboutery and passing the buck. Amidst these murky waters, an indomitable voice has emerged, as India’s renowned wrestler, Babita Phogat, steps into the ring.
Let’s find out how Babita Phogat took these protesters head on, and why she was compelled to take to task Sakshi Malik, her junior in the wrestling world, labeling her as the ‘Congress’s puppet’.
“BJP incited the protests”
Sakshi Malik, herself a noted Indian freestyle wrestler, had recently stirred the pot by alleging that Babita Phogat and a few other BJP leaders were inciting the wrestlers’ protests. Further stoking the fire, she accused the Tikait brothers, prominent farmer leaders, of serving the cause of the ruling government. This, despite the brothers’ staunch backing of the protests, even to the extent of sending direct threats to the ruling dispensation.
Babita Phogat, however, is no stranger to confrontation, and she has faced these allegations with the same indomitable spirit she displays in the wrestling arena. Clearly having had enough of the controversy and confusion, Babita decided to clear the air and take the detractors head-on. She took to Twitter, a potent platform in today’s digitally driven world, to lay down her response. Not one to mince words, she boldly called out the protesters as ‘puppets of Congress’.
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Her recent tweet went viral. It read:
“There is a saying that don’t do anything that makes you eat your words, and put a blemish that cannot be removed. I found it sad yet amusing, when my younger sister [Sakshi Malik] and her husband [Satyawart Kadian] posted a video about me giving assent for the protests.”
एक कहावत है कि
ज़िंदगी भर के लिये आपके माथे पर कलंक की निशानी पड़ जाए।
बात ऐसी ना कहो दोस्त की कह के फिर छिपानी पड़ जाएँ ।
मुझे कल बड़ा दुःख भी हुआ और हँसी भी आई जब मैं अपनी छोटी बहन और उनके पतिदेव का विडीओ देख रही थी , सबसे पहले तो मैं ये स्पष्ट कर दूँ की जो अनुमति का काग़ज़… https://t.co/UqDMAF0qap— Babita Phogat (Modi Ka Parivar) (@BabitaPhogat) June 18, 2023
“Protestors have no faith in the system”
Babita categorically denied giving any assent to the protests. With a firm stand, she refuted the allegations, highlighting the lack of concrete proof such as her signature or acceptance of the actions of these protesters. As an ex-World Championship medalist and respected figure in the sports community, Babita emphasized that while she empathizes with the concerns of her fellow sportspersons, she strongly disapproves of the way the wrestling protests have unfolded.
To her, it is apparent that the protests have veered off their path and descended into anarchism and chaos.
She expressed her faith in the leadership of the Honorable Prime Minister and the Indian judicial system, urging others to do the same. Her unwavering faith and trust in the system stands as a beacon of hope amidst the turbulent sea of unrest and confusion.
Babita’s powerful response did not stop at denial or merely defending herself against unfounded allegations. She turned the tables on the protesters and highlighted their misplaced faith. She suggested that the protesters could have chosen to voice their concerns directly to the Prime Minister or Home Minister, whose track records suggest that these concerns would not have gone unnoticed. Instead, they chose to place their trust in Deepender Hooda, the Congress party, and Priyanka Vadra. Babita implied that these individuals were more interested in seizing the opportunity to defame the government, rather than genuinely addressing the concerns of the wrestlers.
In her opinion, the protesters’ attempts to disrupt the inauguration of the New Parliament have exposed their ulterior motives and painted a clear picture of their intentions. She vehemently declared the protesters as mere ‘puppets of the Congress’, performing a dance of disruption without any just cause.
Also read: One meeting with Amit Shah and the wrestlers protest dead
The need for accountability
In her concluding statement, Babita emphasized the accountability of the protesters to the public. With a no-holds-barred approach, she urged the protesters to come clean about their intentions and face the court of public opinion. She stressed that it is ultimately the public to whom they are answerable.
As the wrestling protests continue amidst rising tension and dwindling credibility, Babita Phogat has remained steadfast in her stance. Despite being embroiled in this tumultuous situation and facing heated allegations, she has refused to waver.
Through her words and actions, Babita Phogat has made it abundantly clear that protests must embody the spirit of democracy, not descend into anarchy and chaos. Her call for order and transparency amidst the turbulence of the wrestling protests resonates powerfully, reminding all involved that there is no room for anarchism in the democratic process.
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