K.V. SEETHARAMAIAH
When Vinesh Phogat was disqualified because of her overweight by 100 grams, the entire nation shed tears. Entire country felt proud of her for having reached an Olympic final. The authorities concerned just observed the rules. There was nothing personal against her to disqualify. Her appeal for silver medal at Paris Olympics 2024 was dismissed by CAS. She tendered her resignation to the job held by her in Railways and joined Congress. When she was apolitical, she belonged to the entire country. But after she joined a political party, she belongs to that political party. It is the personal choice of anyone to join the party of his or her choice. The reason adduced by Vinesh Phogat for joining the Congress party is that the party respects the women most. When Draupadi Murmu was pitted for the post of President of India, Congress opposed her candidacy tooth and nail. Senior Congress leader Supriya Srinate asked the ‘rate card’ of Kangana Ranaut. Later on she had to eat a humble pie by removing all the controversial remarks from all her social accounts. It can be recalled that Renuka Choudhary had said ‘Rape is common’. Former AICC member had charged that there is a group in Congress similar to the one in film industry, and she was at the receiving end, which explains her not getting any key posts in the party. She has lamented that even the opposition leader had publicly insulted many times during the funeral of P Thomas. CPM State Secretary M.V. Govindan while referring to the interview given by the Congress leader Simi Rosebell John to a TV channel had taken a dig at the Congress saying that a woman leader in Congress itself had stated that there is a power group in Congress who need sponsorship from party leaders to rise in the ranks. She lamented that women with self respect cannot remain in Congress party. President of the Mahila Congress Lathika Subash was also expelled. But now CPM is an ally of Congress under I.N.D.I.A. bloc. Congress leader Kantilal Bhuria had kicked up a controversy. Bhuria while campaigning for the election in which he was a contestant had announced that those with 2 wives get Rs. 2 lakh if Congress is voted to power. Congress covertly promotes bigamous marriage. Congress is an opponent of triple talaq abolition. Woman Congress Co-ordinator Radhika Khera had alleged that she was insulted by her own party leaders in Chhattsigargh. Video showing sobbing and complaining about the incident had gone viral. Padmaja Venugopal, daughter of the late Congress leader and former Kerala Chief Minister K. Karunakaran made scathing remarks at Congress saying that she was insulted and blamed the Congress party for showing no respect for women. At National Teachers Awards ceremony President Draupadi Murmu has voiced concern that the respect for women has been limited to words only. Brij Bhushan Singh has lashed out at wrestler Vinesh Phogat after she joined Congress. Whatever may be the truth, Bhushan has come out with the allegation of conspiracy against him by her with her soul in Congress party even before she joined the party. Congress insults Nari Shakti with sexism remarks. Randeep Singh Surjewala’s sexist remarks sparked off a controversy. Haryana Women’s panel had summoned Surjewala for his sexist and misogynist remark on BJP’s Mathura face Hema Malini. Digvijay Singh had called his colleague Meenakshi Natarajan as ‘tunch maal’. Tunch means lowly. It is a lewd term for woman. Singh has given new life to dying words. If Phogat has joined Congress party hoping that she as the woman would be honoured she would be living in fools’ paradise. Her choice to join Congress is unquestionable. But the reason she has assigned is not in consonance with the facts.
