Several women wrestlers write to PM Modi, IOA, SAI demanding fair Asian Games trials
New Delhi(PTI): Several women wrestlers, including medal winners from Commonwealth Games and Asian Championship, on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the ad-hoc panel running the WFI, requesting "fair trials" for Asian Games amidst reports that the six protesting grapplers may be given exemption.
The 24 women wrestlers from Sir Chhotu Ram Akhada in Rohtak, who also wrote to SAI Director General Sandeep Pradhan, have conveyed that they won't accept two-stage trial or any another relaxation given to the protesting grapplers.
The IOA-appointed ad-hoc panel has announced that Asian Games trials will be held on July 22-23 but did not reveal the criteria.
The wrestlers are even preparing to hit the roads for a fresh protest and approach the judiciary if any discriminatory decision is taken by the IOA ad-hoc committee.
Panel head Bhupender Singh Bajwa had on June 16 conveyed to the six protesting wrestlers -- Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Sangeeta Phogat, Satyawart Kadian and Jirender Kinha -- that they will have to compete in just one final bout against the winners of the initial trials.
According to sources, the ad-hoc panel is deliberating over a criteria which will exempt current Olympic and World Championship medallists from the trials, which will benefit Bajrang, Vinesh and Ravi Dahiya.
The IOA has to submit the names of the participating wrestlers by July 23.
"Even if only three Olympians were to be given concessions, this would be wrong to the youngsters," the wrestlers said in the letter that was also marked to Home Minister Amit Shah and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur.
"We feel this decision (two-stage trial) is unfair and unjust to the other emerging wrestlers of the nation as we have to fight and win approximately four to five bouts and one more qualifying bout against one of these wrestlers and in contrast they have to just fight single bout to qualify which is biased, unjustified and against the spirit of right of equality."
The letter further read, "India is a democratic country... and under Article 14 of the Indian constitution, every citizen must be given the right to equality.
"Indian constitution is liberal but the decision taken by the committee is against the fundamental rights of an individual's opportunity as we are not getting equal opportunity and these six wrestlers are given special concession and benefits in the trials without any proper reason and it is highly opposable and objectionable."
"We request you to reconsider this decision while keeping the rights, appeals, hope and future of all the talented emerging wrestlers in the account (sic)."
Manisha, winner of a bronze medal in the Asian Championship (Astana) and gold at the UWW Ranking Series event (Bishkek) this year, Pooja Gehlot, winner of a bronze medal at the Birmingham CWG along, along with 22 others, have signed the letter.
The signatories also include junior world championship bronze winner Ritika, U23 World Championship bronze winner Mansi, U23 Asian Championship silver medallist Rajni.
Talking to PTI, Manisha said, "There should be just one trial. They can beat us in competition and go to Asian Games. At least we will have satisfaction that they beat us. It is difficult to maintain weight. Two-stage trials is not acceptable."
"Lot of athletes are with us. There should be fair trials," she said.
Sarika, winner of bronze medal at the junior Asian Championship said, "If we have to protest or go to court, we are ready for everything. Wrestlers from Jalandhar, Sonepat, Jind and Hisar have also written letters to IOA and other authorities."
Jagdish Dhanda, a coach at Sir Chhotu Ram Akhada in Rohtak also said that they will not accept any discrimination.
"From the first day we were opposing any such move. There are several junior and sub junior wrestlers who fear that it might happen to them also, so they have also come forward and signed the letter," he said.
It is unclear if the six protesting wrestlers, who are in different parts of the world for training and competitions, will come back to India for trials this month.
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K'taka Cong to protest against replacing MGNREGA, 'hate politics' in National Herald case
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said that the ruling Congress in the state will hold protests against the central government's move to replace the existing rural employment law MGNREGA, and the alleged "hate politics" against the party leadership in the National Herald case on December 17.
The state Congress president said that the protest led by him and CM Siddaramaiah will be held in front of Gandhi state at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha here on Wednesday, and similar protests will also be held at all district and taluka centres of the state.
The party also plans to raise the issues in the state legislature here.
"The agitation has become necessary. Tomorrow at 9.30 am, the chief minister, myself, all ministers, MLAs and MLCs will stage a protest in front of the Gandhi statue. Everyone will participate," Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said the protests will also be held in all district and taluk centres including Bengaluru, and there is also a plan for a programme on Saturday, details of which will be shared later.
"In Assembly too there is a need to discuss this and for it to go into records, we are making preparations for it....the protest is against removing Mahatma Gandhi's name from MGNREGA, and against the hate politics towards Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Congress leaders," he added.
The Congress' move, came as the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, that seeks to replace the existing rural employment law MGNREGA, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday amid strong objections by the opposition to the "removal" of Mahatma Gandhi's name from it.
Also, a court in Delhi on Tuesday refused to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate's money laundering charge against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and five others in the National Herald case.
Alleging that Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were "harassed" in connection with the National Herald case, Shivakumar said several people, including him, had given funds to help the party related organisation, and they too were being troubled.
"My brother D K Suresh (former MP) and I were supposed to appear before the Delhi police in connection with the National Herald case. We had written a letter to them seeking a FIR copy. Chargesheet was filed by ED in the case without an FIR," he claimed.
Pointing to the Delhi Court's decision, the Deputy CM said, "This is proof that the legal system in the country is still alive. This also proves that the power is being misused (by those in the central government) to harass political opponents."
Highlighting that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru started the National Herald in 1937, and that it is Congress' property, Shivakumar, questioning the validity of the ED case, said, "As Congress presidents (in past) Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi had their shares, it was not their own. Similarly, if we as Congress workers don't donate to the party organisation, who else will?"
Shivakumar also said that the move to rename MNREGA is with an intention to "insult" Gandhi and to weaken the scheme by reducing its funding.
