Tharoor ‘Wrestles’ With PT Usha Over Grapplers’ Protest

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, (IANS) – Shashi Tharoor on April 28 expressed his displeasure on a fellow lawmaker and one who also hails from Kerala — P.T.Usha over her statement in the ongoing protests launched by the wrestlers in New Delhi.

Some of India’s top wrestlers, including Olympic medalists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik along with Asian and Commonwealth Games medalist Vinesh Phogat are protesting at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, seeking action against WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for alleged sexual harassment of women grapplers.

Usha, who currently is a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha and recently was appointed the Indian Olympic Association president, has rubbed many the wrong way on account of her remarks when she said the IOA has an athletes’ commission and instead of going on the streets, they could have come to the IOA.

Reacting to this, Tharoor, the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, took to Twitter and wrote: “Dear @PTUshaOfficial, it does not become you to disparage the justified protests of your fellow sportspersons in the face of repeated & wanton sexual harassment. Their standing up for their rights does not “tarnish the image of the nation”. Ignoring their concerns – instead of hearing them out, investigating them & taking just action – does.”