New Delhi: BJP MP Kangana Ranaut Tuesday sought to credit Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving opportunity to wrestler Vinesh Phogat to represent India at the Paris Olympics despite the sportswoman having allegedly raised the slogan of “Modi Teri kabar khudegi (Modi, your grave will be dug)” against the PM during the wrestlers’ protest held last year.
Phogat scripted history as she defeated Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez in the semi-finals at the Paris 2024 Olympics and became the first Indian woman to reach the finals of the 50 kg freestyle wrestling tournament at the Olympics.
As congratulations started pouring in, BJP MP and Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut took to Instagram to congratulate her, while reminding her that even though she has participated in the protests, the government had provided her with the best facilities.
“Fingers crossed for India’s first Gold Medal…Vinesh Phogat at one point took part in protests where she raised the slogans of ‘Modi teri Kabr khudegi’, yet she was given the opportunity to represent the nation and best of the training, coaches and facilities. Beauty of democracy and a great leader,” she posted on her Instagram handle.
Phogat had participated in the protests last year against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The months-long protests were led by India’s ace wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshee Malikkh, that was called off in June in light of the police investigation launched against him.
The wrestlers had first staged a sit-in in January, with Vinesh Phogat breaking down on camera alleging widespread sexual abuse in wrestling. The protests took place at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. And while the slogan “Modi teri kabar khudegi” was raised by some, there’s no record of Vinesh having said this.
Singh is facing criminal proceedings for alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers and is out on bail.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic medal-winning wrestler Bajrang Punia also took to X and congratulated Phogat on the achievement.
“These are the daughters of the country, who have always brought glory to the country. Those who have always placed thorns in the path of these daughters will at least learn a lesson from these daughters and will refrain from sowing thorns in their path in future,” posted Bajrang Punia on X.
In yet another post, Punia called Phogat a ‘lioness’ and reminded her of how she had been kicked, crushed, and “dragged on the streets in her country”.
“But let me tell you one thing, this girl was kicked and crushed in her own country. This girl was dragged on the streets in her country. This girl is going to conquer the world but she lost to the system in this country,” Punia had said.
Senior BJP leaders including Anurag Thakur congratulated Phogat, too.
“@Phogat_Vinesh, this is phenomenal! This historic victory in the Women’s Freestyle 50kg Wrestling semi-finals in #ParisOlympics2024 has assured her a spot on the podium, a first for any female wrestler from India. Congratulations & all the best for the final match. #Cheer4Bharat,” he posted.
Union minister Giriraj Singh, too, congratulated her.
In a post on X, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, said the identity of champions is that they give their answer on the field. “The echo of your success in Paris is being heard clearly in Delhi,” he wrote.
“After defeating three top wrestlers of the world in a single day, the whole country is emotional along with Vinesh…. Those who refused to acknowledge the struggle of Vinesh and her friends, even raised questions on their intentions and abilities, all of them have got an answer,” he said.
“Today, the entire system of power which made her shed tears of blood lay shattered in front of the brave daughter of India,” Gandhi added.
This is an updated version of the report
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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