- Friday, February 28, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
With the ongoing protest by some of India’s accomplished wrestlers snowballing into a major issue, the country’s legendary former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar also found himself dragged into the controversy as some of the opposition parties and their wings questioned his alleged silence over the matter.
Earlier this week, workers of the Youth Congress, the youth wing of the opposition Indian National Congress, put up a poster outside the residence of the former India cricket captain in his home town Mumbai, questioning why he did not speak up about the ongoing agitation. The city police removed the poster later.
The Youth Congress activists were upset that Tendulkar, who recently turned 50 and glorious celebrations were held worldwide, did not allegedly express support for the wrestlers who have been agitating against the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is also a parliamentarian from India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing him of sexually harassing several women wrestlers.
Tendulkar is a recipient of Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, besides many others. He has also served as a member of the Rajya Sabha or Upper House of the Indian parliament when the Congress-led National Democratic Alliance was in power in Delhi.
The Nationalist Congress Party, another major player in the politics of the western state of Maharashtra, also asked Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir, another former India player and currently a BJP MP from Delhi, to support the women wrestlers.
In a statement, NCP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto asked Tendulkar, who was recently appointed by the Maharashtra government as ‘Smile Ambassador’, to speak up for the women wrestlers.
In a message to Gambhir, Crasto asked him to fulfil his “duty” towards fellow sportspersons.
“Hello Gautam Gambhir, When the world thinks of India’s 2011 cricket world cup final, the first thought that comes to mind is MS Dhoni’s winning six, but what actually set the tone for that victory was the gritty unforgettable 97 runs scored by you in the same match,” Crasto said. “You fulfilled your duty as a cricketer and now you must fulfil your duty as a sportsperson by supporting our women wrestlers who are seeking justice but are being neglected by your party BJP because the man they are accusing is their MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh,” he said.
He said Gambhir should speak in favour of the women wrestlers as they are fellow sportspersons. “Your party heads the central government, and if you speak, it will amplify the voices of our wrestlers and help them get justice. So please speak up,” the NCP spokesperson said.
Earlier, Crasto had urged Tendulkar to be the ‘Smile Ambassador’ for the wrestlers contending that the BJP has “snatched their smile by refusing to act against Singh”.
(With PTI inputs)
