Hours after the London Olympic medalist questioned the exemption granted to her and five others from the Asian Games and World Championships trials, top Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat said on Friday that Yogeshwar Dutt will be remembered in the wrestling world as a spineless lackey of departing WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Additionally, according to Phogat, Yogeshwar allegedly told one of the female wrestlers at the oversight panel sessions that “such things happen” in response to the accusations of sexual harassment made against the WFI chief.
One of the six members of the panel established by the government to look into Singh’s alleged sexual harassment was Dutt. All of the investigation’s results had not been made public by the government.
Olympic medalist Dutt from London questioned the justification and standards for such an exemption in a video broadcast on Twitter on Friday. Dutt tweeted something, then Vinesh released a lengthy response a little more than two hours later.
In response to Vinesh’s accusations, Dutt stated that he did not want a certification from her and pressed her to identify the female wrestler who he had approached and remarked about.
He further asserted that Vinesh was corrupt since she received Rs 25 lakh in prize money from the Haryana government for a member of her husband’s family although the money was intended for her real coach and her uncle Mahavir Phogat.
Additionally, Dutt asserted that he had been approached by a number of coaches who were taking part in the protest to head it and serve as WFI President.
According to press reports on Thursday, in order to make the Indian team for the Asian Games and the World Championships, six protesting wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia and his wife Sangeeta Phogat, will need to win just one match against the victor of stage-one trials.
The fact that Yogeshwar was consuming leftovers off Brij Bhushan’s plate was known to the whole wrestling community. Vinesh stated on her own Twitter profile, “Yogeshwar absolutely vomits if somebody raises a voice against social injustice.
He also called the families of numerous female wrestlers, advising them to restrain their daughters. He had already made statements in public disparaging female wrestlers, but he was still allowed to serve on both panels.
“He repeatedly stopped coaches and wrestlers from joining the protest. Yogeshwar was eating off of Brij Bhushan’s plate, which was understood by the entire wrestling community, she claimed.
The feisty Yogeshwar was referred to as a Brij Bhushan lackey and a someone who had betrayed his own brotherhood by the fiery Vinesh, a double Asian Games and triple CWG gold medalist.
She wrote, “The wrestling world will never forget you for licking the feet of Brij Bhushan.”
She referred to Kanauj King Jaichand, who is famous for collaborating with Muhammad of Ghor to dethrone Prithviraj Chauhan, and remarked, “As long as a Jaichand like Yogeshwar remains in wrestling, surely the spirits of the oppressors will remain high.”
“Yogeshwar Dutt’s obnoxious laugh lingered in my head. He was a member of both committees established to look into claims (made by wrestlers). He used to chuckle as female wrestlers described their experiences to the committee members.
He followed two female wrestlers who had come out to get water and said Brij Bhushan wouldn’t suffer any harm. The cousin of BJP politician Babita Phogat said, “Go back to your practise.
Vinesh also claimed that Dutt had persuaded female wrestlers to accept a settlement and dismiss their accusations against Singh.
“He said in a very obscene way to another female wrestler that this (sexual harassment) happens and don’t make a big deal out of it. If you need anything, let me know. Following the committee meeting, Yogeshwar gave Brij Bhushan and the media the names of the female complainants.
Late in the evening, Yogeshwar challenged Vinesh in a live Twitter address to name the female wrestler he had stopped.
“If I have stopped any girls, they are welcome to come forward, as are their parents. She claims that I give them any kind of assistance, but in reality, I am unable to choose any members of the team or enrol any individuals in the national camp. I lack that authority.
In response to claims that he was the WFI chief’s lackey, Dutt maintained he had little contact with anyone in the Federation and Vinesh was the one who received favours from the sports organisation.
“Since 2016, I haven’t frequently visited the Federation headquarters. I did not take a coach, and I am neither a representative of the state of Haryana nor a WFI member. Brij Bhushan did not campaign for me in either of the two elections I ran in. He would have come if he knew I was nearby.
“I did not support him during his election campaign.”
He explained how Vinesh used WFI to complete her tasks.
“At this point, I’ll reveal who was genuinely friendly with the Federation. You were chosen without a trial for the 48kg Indoor Asian Games in 2017. It was okay for you to play at 53 kilos. You then decided not to participate.
“The wrestler who was moved from position 53 to 48 did not receive a medal due to weight reduction. WFI did not sanction you despite this.
“You participated in the Asian Games in 2018 without undergoing trials. You exert pressure on WFI. You were an excellent wrestler, so that was why they agreed. You were vying for a medal.
“So, I or you are closer to Federation? He countered with a query.
You requested to skip the tryouts for the 2022 World Championship as well, but you were required to compete because Antim Panghal was a strong opponent.
In response to the accusation that he was a traitor, Dutt retorted, “Entire country knows who is Jaichand and who is Bhagat Singh. Your certificate is not required. You are all well known throughout the state of Haryana.
“Everyone knows that your coach is your uncle Mahabir Phogat, but you announced that he is Om Prakash, and you paid him the entire prize money of Rs 25 to 30 lakh that you received from the Haryana government.
Why did you give him the money when he is not your coach? Let me explain. since he is your husband’s maternal uncle (mother). Your own uncle was left behind. I have a lot to say, yet I restrain myself.
Vinesh received a new position with the Railways, and Dutt expressed surprise at the government’s willingness to meet all of her demands.
“In the RSPB, a Dhyanchand Awardee transferred and took the position of a World Cadet Medalist. What sort of protest was it, seeing as how you already have everything you want? Where is the altercation that you started?
“Now that the true harassment has started. Young wrestlers are being bullied.
Because Yogeshwar is a traitor and a “poisonous snake,” according to Vinesh, he hasn’t been able to win any elections.
“Due to your betrayal of society, you stumbled twice during the elections. And I dare you to say that you will never win an election in your entire life because society is constantly on the lookout for deadly snakes and never permits them to enter.
Dutt responded by saying that if losing an election makes a person terrible, then Brij Bhushan must be a good man because he has won six elections.
