Smriti Irani, a minister in the Union, questioned why Babita Phogat, a relative of Vinesh Phogat, would sit among those who had abused others while defying her own family. On Wednesday, Union Minister Smriti Irani chastised the wrestlers demonstrating against Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh by asking why Babita Phogat would associate with those who take advantage of others. Babita Phogat, a wrestler and member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, is the cousin of Vinesh Phogat, a wrestler and leader of the protest against Singh along with Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik. 

In an interview with a television news channel, Irani asked why would Vinesh’s cousin sit with people who exploited her family members. “I was with Babita Phogat, 2-3 hours before this interview. Do you think a famous wrestler like Baibta Phogat would sit with people who would have exploited someone and that too people of her family,” she said: “Do you think Babita Phogat would go against her family?” 

She further said that an “independent probe is the only way by which these women (Vinesh and Sakshi) can be helped.” On Wednesday, the Delhi police said that an investigation was underway in the matter and denied reports stating that police do not have sufficient evidence to arrest Singh. Union sports minister Anurag Thakur also urged the wrestlers to wait until the conclusion of the probe. 

On Tuesday, the grapplers had announced immersion of their medals into Ganga river at Haridwar but later changed their decision.  Smriti Irani ‘Missing’, Says Congress : The Congress party on Wednesday targeted the Union women and child development minister tweeting a poster of her with ‘Missing’ written over the top, alluding that the BJP leader has been silent on the sexual harassment allegations against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. This comes after the party earlier alleged Irani of hiding replies to one of her tweets where the users asked questions about the way police handled the wrestlers while detaining them on Sunday.