By Sushil Kutty
Once top wrestlers, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat are back protesting the undue influence of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on the wrestling establishment. People will remember Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a BJP MP. For a very long time, he was the Chief of the Wrestling Federation of India and his happens to be one of the never-ending stories linked to the Narendra Modi saga.
The farmers’ protests currently in its second – or is it, third – sitting is another never-ending story, marked by rubber bullets and teargas shells with the expiry dates on the teargas long expired. Allegations of “Khalistani” dog the farmers who spent millions getting battle-ready to take on the security forces, massed at the Punjab-Haryana Border.
And on the border separating National Capital Region Delhi from surrounding Haryana, with the one sole aim to protect the invasion of Delhi by modern-day “Aakrantas”. History tells us the “Aakranta” always wins. “Will the farmers repeat history?” is the question. The answer to that is “people should learn from history.”
As for Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, he is no “Aakranta”. This man is an entrenched feudal overlord with fingers for tentacles dug deep in wrestling mud. The 66-year-old needs just one more ‘6’ to get the Devil’s UID – ‘666’. And the leech that he is, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is also called ‘leechad’ by his many detractors. The enduring story linked to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is that he isn’t gonna change colour, not as long as there is the Modi regime in place.
Witness the latest: Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat have fired another warning shot, this time adding “nepotism” to the list of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s alleged misdemeanors – his hand in the appointment of his son Karan Bhushan Singh as the President of the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association. Long live Vishwaguru…Long live Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
How is that for a bloodless coup? Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat couldn’t believe their eyes and ears. Did they hear right? Matter of fact, yes. And can’t nothing be done about it. As it is, Punia, Malik and Phogat are accused of being “andolanjeevis” armed with the “Soros Toolkit” at the beck and call of the opposition parties.
That said, the reinstatement of Sanjay Singh, a Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh acolyte, as the WFI President was another affirmation of Sharan Singh’s undiminished clout in wrestling circles. For the time being, Bajrang, Malik and Phogat are protected by the United World Wrestling, which lifted the WFI’s suspension on February 13.
But the UWW cannot do that which Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat, want done. The appointment of Brij Bhushan’s son Karan Bhushan Singh as UP’s wrestling Chief is a slap on the faces of the trio who have threatened to take their protests to the Social Media, which everybody knows is a double-edged sword.
For the record, Karan Bhushan Singh used to be Vice President of the UP wrestling association till recently. Now, he is the President. And Brij Bhushan had sworn that no one from his family would ever join wrestling administration. The Modi government had doubled down on the promise, stating that neither Brij Bhushan nor his relatives or associates will ever govern wrestling.
But promises are made to be broken and the Modi government takes the dictum seriously. As seriously as doctors take a heart attack. Now, Bajrang Punia wants the government to act. “The Indian Olympic Association had suspended the WFI but the WFI held the nationals in Pune. WFI thinks it is bigger than the government. I request the government not to force us to start the protests again,” says Punia.
From what we know about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, however, and from what we have heard of him, Bajrang Punia’s lament might as well become a dirge and nothing will move. Don’t forget Brij Bhushan was charged with sexual harassment of six women wrestlers and what action was taken against him? The enduring story is that nothing moves Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Think Manipur, for confirmation.
The “andolanjeevi wrestlers” say Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh pulled some strings and got the UWW to revoke the suspension of the WFI. Now, they have warned of a fresh bout of “hitting the streets”. They fear Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh proxies will be instated in key positions for Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to maintain a stranglehold on the WFI.
“I have retired from wrestling but I won’t allow Brij Bhushan and his people to run the federation and also trouble women wrestlers,” Sakshi Malik warned. Like said, some stories are never-ending and this is one of them. For as long as the Modi regime reigns, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will continue to rule the WFI roost. (IPA Service)
