In a recent interview with India Today, Olympic wrestler Sakshi Malik claimed that BJP leader Babita Phogat instigated the protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh with the intent of replacing him as president. Malik disclosed that Phogat convened a private meeting with several wrestlers, suggesting that their protests could help bring positive change if she were elected to lead the federation.
Malik, alongside prominent wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, had been protesting since early 2023, accusing Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment, including misconduct against a minor. Despite external political speculation, Malik clarified that their movement was not supported by the Congress party. Instead, Babita Phogat and another BJP leader, Tirath Rana, aided them in securing permissions to demonstrate in Haryana.
While Malik acknowledged that the wrestlers were genuinely fighting against harassment, internal conflicts emerged over time. She noted that factions within the protest group particularly those influenced by Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat started focusing on personal gain. This fractured the movement, leading to its eventual collapse.
The protest reached its peak in May 2023, when the wrestlers marched to the new Parliament building during its inauguration but were stopped by police. Although the demonstrations ended soon after, the controversy surrounding WFI leadership persists, with the allegations against Brij Bhushan still under legal scrutiny.
Malik’s statements also come amid shifting political dynamics, as Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia have since aligned with the Congress party, contesting in the recent Haryana elections.
