Modi-Shah silent as wrestlers prepare to discard medals in Ganga River
Haridwar: The ongoing protest by wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Sangeeta Phogat, and others has taken a new turn as they arrived in Haridwar to immerse their medals in the holy Ganga river. However, the silence from top government officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, has raised eyebrows. Notably, even Smriti Irani, a prominent voice for women's rights within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has refrained from posting any statements regarding the wrestlers' protest.
The lack of response from the government is evident, with Prime Minister Modi's latest tweet focusing on welcoming the King of Cambodia, while Home Minister Amit Shah's tweet celebrated the completion of nine years of the Modi government. This silence stands in contrast to the previous accolades showered upon these wrestlers by Prime Minister Modi himself when they brought pride to the nation by winning medals at the Olympics.
The wrestlers' decision to discard their hard-earned medals symbolizes their frustration with the system and its alleged failure to address their concerns. The government's lack of engagement with the athletes' demands has further fueled their disappointment. As the wrestlers prepare to part with their cherished medals in the sacred waters of the Ganga, questions arise about the government's stance on their grievances and the significance it places on the athletes who have represented India on the international stage.
The protest continues to garner attention, with supporters and critics closely watching the developments. The wrestlers' actions serve as a powerful reminder of the challenges faced by athletes and the importance of addressing their concerns to ensure a supportive and inclusive sports ecosystem in the country.
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Ghazipur teen's death: Akhilesh alleges cover-up, likens case to Hathras; BJP hits back
Lucknow (PTI): Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Uttar Pradesh government over the recovery of a teenage girl's body in Ghazipur, alleging attempts to “change statements” and calling the incident a repeat of the Hathras case.
The BJP has dismissed the remarks as “divisive politics”.
The body of the teenage girl was found under a bridge on the Ganga in the Karanda police station area of Ghazipur district earlier this month.
Sharing a video of the victim's father on X, Yadav said, “Changing statements does not change the truth. Uttar Pradesh has never seen such a weak chief minister, under whose watch poor and helpless victims are pressured to alter their statements."
In the video, the girl’s father can be purportedly heard accusing a village head of intimidation and alleging that stones were pelted when a Samajwadi Party delegation had gone to meet the family.
He also claimed that a police officer was injured while trying to protect him.
On Saturday, however, the victim's father told reporters that he did not want political leaders to visit his home for “political mileage”.
He also said that the district officials have assured him of strict action against the accused and expressed satisfaction with the police investigation.
Raising a volley of questions, Yadav asked why there was a delay in lodging the FIR in the case, why statements were allegedly altered, and why the victim's family was being “harassed”.
The Samajwadi Party (SP) chief also questioned the lack of action against those who allegedly pelted stones at the police and raised doubts over the post-mortem report.
“Everyone knows the truth. Whatever the post-mortem report may say, the ground reality is known to everyone in the village,” Yadav said.
He also claimed that the Ghazipur incident mirrored the Hathras case, claiming both involved families from marginalised backgrounds and "dominant elements" as perpetrators.
In Hathras, a Dalit girl was allegedly gangraped on September 14, 2020. She later died at the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi on September 29.
Yadav questioned whether “cosmetic action” would ensure justice for the victim's family, as he stressed the need for “social justice” along with the rule of law.
Reacting to the SP chief’s remarks, BJP leader Naveen Srivastava said in a post on X, “You have no faith in the administration, no faith in the post-mortem report, and no faith in the victim's father. You only believe in divisive politics.”
Varanasi Zone ADGP, Piyush Mordia, said the girl had gone missing on the night of April 14, and her body was found about 3 km from her home in the Ganga early the next morning.
Based on a complaint filed by the family, an FIR has been registered, and the main accused has been arrested, the officer said.
Senior police and administrative officials have met the victim's family, Mordia said, noting that the father has sought a speedy trial to ensure strict punishment for the accused.
The officer also said that some “outsiders” attempted to create unrest in the village.
