Sanjay Singh, a trusted confidant of the former President of the Wrestling Federation, Mr. Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, has ascended to the position of the new President of the Wrestling Federation. In his post-election interaction with the media, Sanjay Singh expressed a profound bond, likening Mr. Brijbhushan to a brother.
The candidate who reprsented Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Poonia who led a protracted protest against Mr. Brijbhushan, accusing him of sexual harassment, garnered a mere 7 votes. In stark contrast, Sanjay Singh secured a substantial 37 votes. Following the defeat, Sakshi Malik held a press conference where she announced her departure from wrestling. She expressed profound disappointment that Mr. Brijbhushan, accused by numerous wrestlers of sexual harassment, has once again emerged victorious, perpetuating injustice against the young athletes allegedly harassed by him. Malik lamented the unfulfilled expectation that Home Minister Amit Shah would fulfill his promise and bring the former President to justice.
The wrestlers initiated their protest on January 18th, beginning at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and lasting for several weeks. Despite efforts by influential figures such as Babita Phogat, a BJP Leader, President of the Indian Olympic Association and veteran athlete PT Usha, their attempts to persuade the protestors were unsuccessful. The protests remained in the public discourse, becoming a platform for political posturing by opposition leaders. Government representatives Anurag Thakur and Home Minister Amit Shah met with the wrestlers, but their demands for Brijbhushan's arrest without other legal procedures and his resignation persisted.
From the outset, it was evident that the protests were being co-opted by political leaders from the opposition, overshadowing the wrestlers' genuine cause. Politics within the wrestling arena exacerbated the chaos, particularly in Haryana, where wrestling holds significant political weight. While Haryana wrestlers have contributed significantly to the country's medal tally, allegations of their dominance over wrestlers from other states and the prevalence of casteism in wrestling have marred the sport.
The protesting wrestlers, predominantly from the Jat community, faced allegations of being incited by Congress Leader Bhoopendra Hooda. Two purported intentions underscored the alleged plot: firstly, to force Mr. Brijbhushan's resignation, diminishing his sway over certain Loksabha constituencies around Ayodhya; and secondly, to aggrieve Jat sentiments, potentially harming the BJP in Jat-dominated areas. The Jat community strongly believes that an insult to any Jat reflects an affront to their entire community. This strategy mirrored the dynamics observed during the Farm Bills protests, where the primary objective was to cultivate a perception among Jats that the BJP was antithetical to their interests, potentially inflicting a political cost on the party in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
The protests escalated to the point of attempting to disrupt the inauguration of the new parliament building on May 28, 2023. Subsequently, the wrestlers were arrested by the police, an incident that was once again politicized. The opposition sought to sway the Jat-dominated regions of Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, northern Rajasthan and a part of western Uttar Pradesh.
As elections drew near, the need to quell the protests arose. Home Minister Shah engaged with the wrestlers, leading to Mr. Brijbhushan's resignation. On the other hand, expectations arose that a candidate from Haryana would assume the presidency, but to the surprise of many, the Haryana candidate faced defeat in the elections for Wrestling Federation. The newly elected President, Sanjay Singh, notably maintains close ties with Mr. Brijbhushan.
The wrestlers expressed the belief that Sanjay Singh would mirror the actions of Mr. Brijbhushan, given their close friendship. However, this line of reasoning is flawed, and it cannot be denied that Sanjay Singh secured a resounding victory in the elections. The apparent reason behind his success lies in the support of wrestlers hailing from regions beyond Haryana who rallied behind Mr. Brijbhushan, appreciating his encouragement of athletes from across the country.
Simultaneously, the BJP's triumph in three states indicates that the party emerged unscathed from the protests. In the meanwhile, the party strategically countered the situation by labeling the recent opposition MP's mimicry of VP Jagdip Dhankhar and their subsequent celebration of it, as an insult to the Jat community, to which Mr. Dhankhar belongs. This move has ensnared the opposition in its own political web. Consequently, it seems unlikely that the wrestlers will resume their protests. However the overarching question remains: who emerged victorious in this contest—wrestling or politics?
