New Delhi, Apr 26: "Why are you not listening to our 'Mann Ki Baat'," the protesting wrestlers asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday and sought his time to discuss the sexual harassment allegations against his party's MP and WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Country's top wrestlers resumed their agitation against the wrestling federation's chief on Sunday, three months after they ended their sit-in protest following the formation of an oversight committee to probe into the serious allegations.
The Sports Ministry has not yet made public the findings of six-member oversight panel that submitted its report on April 5.
The wresters on Wednesday said they are surprised that PM Modi felicitates them and clicks pictures with them when they win medals but now he has turned a blind eye to their plight when they are on road, seeking justice.
"PM Modi sir talks about 'Beti Bachao' and 'Beti Padhao', and listens to everyone's 'Mann Ki Baat'. Can't he listen to our 'mann ki baat'? He invites us to his home when we win medals and gives us a lot of respect and calls us his daughters. Today, we appeal to him that he listens to our 'Mann Ki Baat'," Rio Games bronze medallist Sakshi Malik said during a media interaction.
Interestingly, Malik drew analogy with Prime Minister's popular radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' which is completing 100 editions and to mark the milestone, several programs are being organised by the government.
"I want to ask Smriti Irani (Union Minister) why is she silent now? It's been four days that we are sleeping on road, enduring mosquito bites. We are not being allowed (by Delhi Police) to prepare food and train, why are you silent? I just want to say that you come here, listen to us and support us," added Malik.
Malik feels may be their point is not reaching the Prime Minister.
"Maybe our truth is not reaching him, so we want to meet him and let him know our issues."
An emotional World championship medallist Vinesh Phogat said,"we don't have the (telephone) numbers (of relevant people) by which we can reach out to him so we are appealing to PM Modi through media to raise issues. Maybe he can then listen to your cries. Our souls are almost dead, maybe he will see."
"He does his program 'Mann ki Baat' but has he, even for a minute given a thought to our 'mann ki baat, how much dilemma, does he think we face that daughters of the nation are sitting on the roads and are on the cusp of quitting wrestling by standing against a big criminal?"
Vinesh also said that they will take out a candle light march later in the evening.
"Maybe the authorities can't see, so we will take out a candle light march to offer some light. Maybe they can see that daughters of India, who are not just wrestlers but represent the feelings of many women, are out on the roads.
Tokyo Games bronze medallist Bajrang also appealed to the PM.
"These are daughters of India appealing to you, please do justice with them," he said.
"We had brought wrestling mats for practice but we were not allowed, even we can't prepare our food here because there is no permission. Now, will we have to take permission even for breathing," asked Bajrang.
He also added that efforts are being made by WFI chief's men to scare them.
"A few people are trying to discourage us and scare us by narrating stories how Brij Bhushan got an adversary killed. But let me tell you that we are not going to get scared."
Vinesh also appealed to all athletes, across disciplines, to stand united with them.
"Can't we put behind greed, fear and self interest behind? I appeal to all sports persons of the nation, Olympic medallists, national medallists and world championship medallists to come together and stay united.
"If we come together, there is no reason why we can't be number one nation in Olympics one day."
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New Delhi (PTI): Amid the ongoing row over USAID funding, the Congress on Monday claimed that the Union finance ministry has "thoroughly exposed" the BJP's "lies" with its annual report for 2023-24 stating that the US agency is currently implementing seven projects in collaboration with the Government of India and none of them has anything to do with voter turnout.
The BJP has also rejected allegations of the Congress and accused Rahul Gandhi as well as the party of colluding with foreign forces in a bid to weaken India.
The latest annual report of the finance ministry has disclosed that the agency funded seven projects worth USD 750 million in 2023-24.
"Currently, seven projects worth a total budget of USD 750 million (approx) are being implemented by USAID in partnership with the Government of India," as per the finance ministry's annual report for 2023-24.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "None other than the Union Finance Ministry has thoroughly exposed the lies of the PM and his jhoot brigade, including his dapper External Affairs Minister."
As stated in the finance ministry's annual report for 2023-24, USAID is currently implementing seven projects in collaboration with the Government of India, with a combined budget of approximately USD 750 million, he said in a post on X.
"Not a single of these projects has to do with voter turnout. All of them are with and through the Union Government," Ramesh said.
For the financial year 2023-24, an obligation of a total of USD 97 million (about Rs 825 crore) has been made by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) under the seven projects, the ministry report said.
The Department of Economic Affairs under the finance ministry, which is the nodal department for bilateral funding arrangements, has also shared the details of projects funded in 2023-24 in the report.
During the year, no funding was made for enhancing voter turnout but to projects related to agriculture and food security programme; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); renewable energy; disaster management and health.
A political controversy erupted in the country earlier this month after the Elon Musk-led DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) claimed that it had cancelled a USD 21 million grant to India to boost "voter turnout".
US President Donald Trump also repeatedly claimed that USAID under the previous administration led by Joe Biden allocated USD 21 million in funding to India for 'voter turnout'.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said the information put out by the Trump administration is "concerning" and the government is looking into it.
The USAID was allowed in India "in good faith, to do good faith activities", and suggestions are being made out of the US that "there are activities which are in bad faith," Jaishankar had said.
The Congress on Sunday had accused the BJP of indulging in "anti-national work" by spreading "fake news from America" and asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar will also have to answer as to why the government is silent when US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are "insulting" India repeatedly.