Is the field of play or is the fight political, why is Vinesh's disqualification being called a conspiracy?

Paris Olympic 2024: After female wrestler Vinesh Phogat was out of the Olympic final, Indian politics has heated up. From Parliament to social media, opposition parties are attacking the federation and the government on this issue. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has called it a conspiracy to not let Phogat play the final and has demanded an investigation into it. AAP MP Sanjay Singh has asked the government to show strictness. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait has said that this is a conspiracy of the federation and the government. All the people who stayed with Vinesh should be investigated.

The federation has described Phogat not being able to play the final as sad and a loss to the country. However, the federation and the government have not said anything on the conspiracy angle. Amidst the opposition's claims and the silence of the federation-government, the question is being raised that why is politics being done in the Vinesh Phogat case?

First know why Phogat was out?

Vinesh Phogat had reached the final of the Olympics. Her final was believed to be certain. Meanwhile, the news came that Vinesh would not be able to play the match due to weight. Vinesh's weight was about 150 grams more than 50 kg.

According to the Olympic rules, wrestlers can get exemption of only up to 100 grams from the category. Vinesh was playing a match in the 50 kg category.

How did politics start on Phogat?

Politics has been intensifying since Vinesh Phogat entered the final, but the uproar over it started when the news of her not being allowed to play in the final due to weight came out. It started with a statement by Vinesh's father-in-law. Talking to TV-9 Bharatvarsh, Vinesh's father-in-law Rajpal Rathi said that this has been done as part of a conspiracy. How did this happen suddenly?

Shortly after Rathi's statement, there was an uproar in Parliament on this issue. On behalf of the opposition, Pappu Yadav, Chandrashekhar, Asaduddin Owaisi and Harendra Malik surrounded the government in the Lok Sabha. These MPs say that Vinesh has been deliberately targeted.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh has tweeted and asked the government to be serious about this matter. Singh has said that the matter should be dealt with strictly. If the International Olympic Association does not accept the demand of the Government of India, then it should be boycotted.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has demanded an investigation into the entire matter. Akhilesh has said that there should be a thorough investigation of the technical reasons behind the discussion of Vinesh Phogat not being able to play in the final and it should be ensured that what is the truth and what is the real reason behind it?

Why politics on Phogat?

1. Vinesh and BJP's relationship sour

Last year, wrestlers led by Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik staged a sit-in at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. This sit-in was against the then BJP MP Brijbhushan. The wrestlers said that Brijbhushan has made Indian wrestling a fiefdom.

During this, Brijbhushan Sharan Singh was also accused of sexual harassment. The wrestlers had demanded his removal from the federation and strict action against him. However, many demands of the wrestlers were not met.

Vinesh Phogat and other wrestlers also protested regarding this. Finally, under an agreement, the Sports Ministry dissolved the federation. When Vinesh reached the final on Tuesday, her teammate Bajrang Punia also posted a post.

Bajrang wrote - Vinesh Phogat is the lioness of India who defeated the 4-time world champion and current Olympic champion in back to back matches today. After that, she defeated the former world champion in the quarter-finals, but should I tell you one thing? This girl was crushed by kicks in her own country. This girl was dragged on the streets in her own country. This girl is going to win the world but was defeated by the system in this country.

2. Assembly elections in Haryana

Assembly elections are to be held in Haryana, where Vinesh Phogat comes from, later this year. In this election to be held on 90 seats of the state, the Congress and BJP alliance is to compete. The Jat community to which Vinesh belongs has political dominance in Haryana politics.

The population of Jats in Haryana is about 20-22 percent. According to CSDS, in the recent Lok Sabha elections, Congress got 61 percent of the Jat votes. 27 percent of Jats voted in favor of BJP.