Gurugram: In a show of support for Vinesh Phogat, the sarv khap mahapanchayat Sunday called for the Indian wrestler to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, after her controversial disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024. The mahapanchayat also demanded an inquiry into the disqualification by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court.

Separately, former Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala advocated for  Phogat’s nomination to the Rajya Sabha.

The sarv khap has also decided to reward Phogat with a gold medal, to honour her at the Nandal Bhawan in Rohtak, and try to persuade her to take back her decision to retire from wrestling. At the district level, Khap Panchayats would hold demonstrations and submit memorandums to the President of their demands, the meeting decided.

To ensure justice for Phogat, the khap panchayats of North India will also unite and take action to ensure the demands made by them are met by the government. The meeting also demanded an investigation into her case by the Supreme Court and strict action against those found guilty.

Phogat, who was competing in the 50 kg category at the Paris Olympics, was disqualified Wednesday after she failed the weigh-in before the finals by 100 grams. The 29-year-old was also stripped of her silver medal in accordance with the event rules. Shortly after, Phogat, who was the first Indian woman to reach the wrestling finals at the Olympics Tuesday, announced her retirement from the sport. A verdict is now pending at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in an appeal against the decision to strip her of the silver medal.

Speaking to ThePrint after the meeting, MLA Sangwan said representatives from Satgama khap, Phogat khap, Malik khap, and Hooda khap, among others, participated in the gathering. The meeting was held at Sangu Dham in the village of Kheri Bura, with Sangwan presiding.

“The khap panchayats do not doubt that Vinesh Phogat was unfairly disqualified after defeating three wrestlers and securing her place in the finals,” Sangwan said.

“She has been punished for taking a stand for young female wrestlers in the country against sexual harassment by the then BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who enjoys the patronage of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) government at the Centre. The BJP has since made his son an MP, and his chosen man, Sanjay Singh, is the president of the Wrestling Federation of India,” he alleged. “Since Vinesh Phogat is a resident of Balali village in Charkhi Dadri, the mahapanchayat has decided to ensure that she receives justice.”

The Charkhi Dadri MLA further warned that if their demands are not met, a large-scale movement will be launched across the state.

Meanwhile, the Meham Chaubisi sarv khap panchayat of Haryana decided Sunday to honour Phogat with the title of “Chaubisi Ratna”. The ceremony will be held at the historic Chaubisi Chabutra in Meham. This decision was made during a meeting of the sarv khap panchayat, chaired by Pradhan Subhash Nambardar, who alleged that a conspiracy had been hatched against Phogat.

The khap panchayat noted that Phogat defeated a wrestler who had won 82 consecutive matches — she handed World no. 1 and Olympic gold-medallist Yui Susaki her first defeat to reach the finals. She also won three matches consecutively to secure the silver medal. The central government should strongly advocate before the Olympic Committee to award Phogat the silver medal and all associated benefits, it said.

Also read: What is Court of Arbitration for Sport – Vinesh Phogat’s only hope for a silver medal in Paris

Former CM demands RS nomination for Phogat

Dushyant Chautala has urged President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to nominate the wrestler as a Rajya Sabha member

In a post on X, Chautala wrote, “Four nominated seats in the Rajya Sabha are currently vacant, and the President is expected to nominate members soon. I appeal to the President and the Prime Minister to nominate the brave daughter of India, Vinesh Phogat, to the Rajya Sabha, just as Sachin Tendulkar was nominated, so that the strong voice of youth, women, and athletes can be heard in the nation’s Parliament. A distinguished international wrestler like Vinesh Phogat should not have to go through party politics and elections. The nation believes that her nomination to the Rajya Sabha is the true honour she deserves. Vinesh will fulfil all the eligibility criteria for nomination by August 25.”

Born in 1994, Phogat will turn 30, the minimum age required to be a Rajya Sabha member, on 25 August this year.

Speaking to ThePrint, Chautala said that the entire nation was saddened by her disqualification. “Considering the sentiments of the entire nation, Vinesh should be encouraged by nominating her as a Rajya Sabha member, which would elevate the respect and honour of athletes and women,” he said.

(Edited by Sanya Mathur)

Also read: Vinesh Phogat disqualification roils Haryana politics. Blame game, promises from all sides