THERE HAS BEEN no protest like this in Indian sport. Even when the wrestlers first came out at Jantar Mantar, it was unprecedented. I think at the time they believed that their demands would be met because they had appealed directly to the prime minister; he had hailed them as champions, he spoke so often of Beti Bachao. They thought their appeal would work, but it didn’t.
Brijbhushan Singh, from what I have been told by people who know him, is immensely powerful in the region that he operates in. He has the loyalties of 12 Lok Sabha MPs and 36 MLAs, or so he claims. Also, he seems to be a counter to [Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister] Yogi Adityanath. Perhaps, that is the reason he is being shielded. The other reason is that now it has become a question of ego. The government seems to be thinking, “How dare these women not just go away?” Moreover, we are seeing a certain dispensability of athletes—if political power cannot use them for its ends, they serve no purpose to them. They can be treated like the wrestlers are being treated today.
It is disingenuous to say that there are political forces at play, as if Brijbhushan is a lamb. He is a political person; there will be a political game. The whole point of ‘there is politics at play’ is to take away from what is the central accusation about Brijbhushan’s behaviour against his athletes. Everything else is just news channel talk to fill airtime.
The government is not in the clear because the Delhi Police are sitting on their hands. When you had this oversight committee, did you call Brijbhushan Singh in for questioning? The sports ministry, the Indian Olympic Association and the Wrestling Federation of India are all controlled by people from the same party. And everyone is trying to protect one guy.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 11, 2023-Ausgabe von THE WEEK India.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 11, 2023-Ausgabe von THE WEEK India.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock