Political Diary
New Delhi, 26 December 2023
Wrestling With Power
TIME FOR RADICAL MAKEOVER
By Poonam I Kaushish
If we do not maintain justice,
justice will not maintain us, said Francis Bacon. This comes to mind over our
wrestlers grappling with power. Indeed, it was a sad day for wrestling when Olympic
medalist Sakshi Malik announced that she was quitting the sport last week and
another medalist Bajrang Punia gave up his Padma Shri award until justice was
given to his “sisters and daughters” fighting against sexual harassment and
their perpetrators.
The cause célèbre? Five-time BJP MP
Brij Bhushan Singh accused of sexually harassing and exploiting female wrestlers
and against whom pugilists have been agitating for nearly a year, acolyte
Sanjay Singh winning elections to the Wrestling Federation President’s post.
True, a politician or his aide
winning an election to an administrative post in a sports body is par for the
cours given sport is riddled with proliferation of netagan seeking to soak in the popularity of sport and sportswomen.
Of course, the hold of leaders on the electoral processes of sports federations
cannot be legally challenged. Example: Bhushan was running WFI from his
official residence.
Also true, if Bhushan had not been a
bahubali with a huge following among
Rajputs and who holds the key in reportedly, 10 seats in Gonda UP, he may have
been counting bars as a Pocso case is registered against him. However, such is
his political clout that any action against him could affect BJP’s prospects in
the State.
Consequently, he remains not only
free while courts take their time over cases registered against him, but also
is much feted as a leader with an outsize influence on wrestling till he became
ineligible. So what if he is not a saint having around 40 cases against him?
The UP bahubali has admitted to
committing a murder and gone to jail.
Undeniably, wrestling is not the
first sport to witness allegations of sexual exploitation of young athletes of
both sexes. Look at Haryana Sports Minister and ex-hockey captain Sandeep Singh
who too has been accused of sexual abuse by a junior coach. He remains a
Minister. However, the allegation against Bhushan is an extreme case that
athletes ran into a political brick wall despite top wrestlers throwing their
all into opposing him since January.
Happily, amid huge outcry over Singh’s
election, the Sports Ministry suspended WFI for its “hasty announcement” of
organising U-15 and U-20 nationals “without following due procedure and not
giving sufficient notice to wrestlers” for preparations. Asking Indian Olympic
Association to form an ad-hoc panel to manage and execute WFI’s roles and
function.
In sync, Bhushan announced his
resignation from wrestling after meeting BJP President Nadda. Even as aide
Singh states he will talk to Prime Minister Modi, Centre and Ministry to prove
no rules were violated. Sic.
Nevertheless, the Government’s
action is only quick fix. The malaise in WFI runs deep and the sight of elite
wrestlers hitting streets, sparring with authorities, being evicted from
Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, quitting the
sport and returning national honours does not do justice to the country’s
aspiration of becoming a sporting power. Given the United World Wrestling not
only expressed its unhappiness with the sordid saga but also suspended WFI.
Besides, with seven medals,
wrestling is India’s most successful individual sport at Olympics and for many
girls specially in Haryana it is an aspirational game which provides social
acceptance.
Privately, a senior sports
administrator avers, Government’s action was a face-saver without openly
acknowledging a mistake in handling la
affair Bhushan.
Alas, over the years power
structures in sports federations often overlap political power whereby politicians
have usurped positions of control and operate them as their private fiefdom. Thereby,
creating conditions that enable abuse of authority.
A sad commentary on society that our
rulers should hold such sway and have their way even in sports administration. Perhaps
it has something to do with our patriarchal lineage and misogynistic culture.
Whereby, we show utter disregard and disrespect for women.... rape, marital
rapes, sexual assault and systemic harassment et al.
Clearly, in a society which lives
with the regressive mindset that freedom and equality for women tantamount to
promiscuity, we swing between two extremes. One where a girl child is bad news
and nurtured on “conform” paranoia: Not to rock the boat, be fearful of what
lies around the corner and subjecting them to countless restrictions in the
name of women’s protection. Whereby fathers make the rules, husbands enforce
them and male bosses reiterate them, speaking out against someone’s wrong doing
is tough.
Notwithstanding the #Me Too
campaign, in a culture where the national narrative conditions people to think
that sexual harassment has no consequences; where sex crimes are dismissed as
result of an imbalanced sex ratio; and where women have little or no cultural
respect, it is going to be a steep uphill to change what is just ‘normal’.
Where does one go from here? Given
that this oppressive atrocity against sportswomen will get worse, not better. All
eyes are on what happens in this case. Clearly our leaders need to pay heed and
address this seriously. Undeniable it is a wake-up call for change. Change our
approach to sexual harassment. One option is radical feminism to make a social
impact and safety of women an important article of faith with people, society
and Government.
Our leaders need to pay heed and
address this seriously. Underscoring, the urgent need to create a safe space
for athletes, especially women. Laws should be tightened which would deter men
to think thousand times before they commit crime, along-with transparency,
accountability and good governance. Only then can India truly become a sporting
powerhouse and fulfil the aspirations of its talented athletes.
One hopes the Government’s latest
action is more than just image management and it uses the opportunity to
clean-up WFI governance, carry structural changes, addresses wrestlers concerns
and creates a sport and a federation worthy of sports. Alongside quickly finish
investigation and prosecution of Bhushan which was set in motion by wrestlers
charges of sexual harassment against him and a chargesheet filed by Delhi
police over six months back if justice is to be done and WFI run in spirit of
rules established.
Towards that end, the National
Sports Development Code 2011, a legally binding framework to ensure that sports
federations which have a monopoly and receive public funding are made
accountable should ensure wrestlers kushtee
with power get justice. As merely mouthing platitudes of impartiality and
fairness will no longer work.
However either which way, our
pugilists have identified their predators and they will determine what happens
next. Surely lies have no legs but truth is the best defense. We need cry a
halt to women being playthings of voyeuristic men. Will we break new ground and
unshackle women? One hopes this will
have a knock-out effect on other federations and trigger greater accountability.
What gives? ---- INFA
(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)
|