A day after wrestler Vinesh Phogat's gut-wrenching disqualification from the Paris Olympics on the brink of her gold medal quest, Opposition INDIA bloc members demanded a discussion in parliament and staged a walkout today from Rajya Sabha when their demand was rejected.
Vinesh Phogat was on Wednesday disqualified for being 100 grams overweight, hours before she was to take on the US' Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the historic 50-kg freestyle gold medal match.
Soon after the day's business started in Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge raised the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat and questioned "who is behind it". Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, the chairman of Rajya Sabha, did not allow a discussion.
Shortly after, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien also stood up to raise some issues but was not allowed by the Chair. Mr Dhankhar cautioned the Trinamool leader and said, "You are shouting at the Chair. Your conduct is ugliest in the House. I condemn your actions. Next time I will show you the door."
As the uproar escalated, Opposition leaders staged a walkout.
Mr Dhankhar remarked that the Opposition believed they were the "only ones whose hearts are bleeding" after Ms Phogat's shocking exit from the Olympics.
"The entire nation is in pain... But to politicise it is the greatest disrespect to her (Ms Phogat)," he added.
Mr Dhankhar also later walked out saying he did not get "support" from the House.
Earlier Wednesday, INDIA bloc members had walked out from the Lok Sabha after expressing their dissatisfaction with Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya's statement in on Ms Phogat.
Some opposition leaders hit out at Mr Mandaviya for detailing the financial assistance given to the grappler for her Olympics preps.
Sports Minister's Statement On Vinesh Phogat In Lok Sabha
Speaking in Lok Sabha, Mansukh Mandaviya said the government had provided all possible assistance to Vinesh Phogat according to her requirements, which included personal staff. He said a total financial assistance of Rs 70,45,775 was given for the Paris Olympic cycle.
"Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from the Paris Olympics due to being overweight by 100 gm. Vinesh was playing in the 50 kg category and her weight had to be 50 kg for the competition. According to the rules and regulations of UWW (United World Wrestling), for all competitions, weigh-ins are organised every morning for the respective category," Mr Mandaviya said.
"According to Article 11, 'If an athlete does not participate or fails in the weigh-in (first or second), they are disqualified from the competition and placed last without any rank," he added.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has lodged a "strong protest" with the world wrestling body over this matter, he said.
Mr Mandaviya said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked IOA chief PT Usha, who is in Paris, to take "appropriate action" in the matter.
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