Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Claim
Babita Phogat, who made comments against Muslim women for staging sit-in protests in Shaheen Bagh, is now on a sit-in agitation against the WFI Chief.
Fact
Image shows Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik at the protest, and not Babita Phogat, whose tweet on Shaheen Bagh is being shared to make the claim.
As multiple wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, continue their protest against Wrestling Federation of India President and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, several social media users are sharing a tweet by Babita Phogat in connection with the ongoing protests.
Users have shared an image showing the female wrestlers in distress and are connecting it to a tweet posted by Babita Phogat. In her tweet posted in 2020, Babita had urged people to vote for the BJP and give a “befitting reply to the Shaheen bagh protesters” The Hindi caption carried on the posts translates to “Look where these Phogat sisters, who had criticised the Muslim women during the Shaheen Bagh sit-in protest, are sitting today…” The caption implies that Babita who was speaking against the protesters in 2020 now finds herself in the same position.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
WHO IS BABITA PHOGAT?
A celebrated wrestler, Babita Phogat won a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and a bronze at the world wrestling championships two years later. She also won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2014. In 2019, she lost her first election in Haryana’s Dadri which she fought on BJP ticket having jointhe the party earlier that year.
Also Read: Old Video Of Brij Bhushan Singh Slapping Wrestler Falsely Linked To Recent Wrestlers Protest
Fact Check/Verification
We began by ascertaining the identities of two women seen in the viral photograph, and conducted a reverse image search on Google.
This led us to a report by the Economic Times, dated April 28, 2023, carrying the viral photograph with the caption, “Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik react during a press conference regarding wrestlers’ protest at Jantar Mantar.”
Many other reports also identified the women seen in the viral photograph as Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik. Such reports can be seen here, here and here.
WHY IS BABITA BEING LINKED TO THE WRESTLERS PROTESTS?
Vinesh Phogat and Babita Phogat are cousins. Babita Phogat had met the protesting wrestlers when they first gathered at Jantar Mantar, earlier in January. She was inducted into the oversight committee formed to probe the various allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. A deputy director at the Haryana Sports and Youth Affairs department, Babita then had “assured” protestors that the “government is with them”. She was also quoted as having said that “There is no smoke without fire,” and that the wrestler’s “ voices are important.” That was however in January.
On April 29, Vinesh and Babita Phogat broke into a war of words over the ongoing protest by the wrestlers against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. A report by LiveMint, dated April 30, 2023, quoting Vinesh Phogat’s tweet, said, “If you are not standing for the rights of aggrieved female wrestlers, Babita sister, I request you with folded hands not to weaken our movement. It has taken years for female wrestlers to speak up against their abusers. You are also a woman, try to understand our pain.”
Vinesh’s reaction comes following Babita tweet hitting out “politicians” for “misusing the wrestlers’ stage to shine their own political careers.” In a tweet dated April 29, 2023, Babita, who joined the BJP in 2019, wrote, “Sportspersons like us, who rose from bottom to top, are capable of fighting our own battles…Some leaders are misusing the wrestlers’ stage to shine their own political careers. Athletes must remember that we belong to the entire nation.”
Also Read: BJP Campaign Vehicle Vandalised In Karnataka? Here’s The Truth Behind Viral Video
Vinesh had earlier also lashed out at Babita saying that she was “more worried about her political career than the cause of the wrestlers. ”
Other protesting wrestlers had also accused Babita Phogat of “ditching” them. A wrestler was quoted as saying by IANS on the condition of anonymity, “Forget others, we got ditched by our own sister Babita Phogat.”
The former wrestler was recently in the news after she accused a fellow committee member of “snatching” the final report on raising objections. “I had read just a few pages of the final report and I had some objections but Radhica Sreeman came and snatched the report. She said since I belong to the same family that is holding the protest, I can’t read the report,” Babita reportedly said.
Newschecker also found that Vinesh Phogat had not made any public statements on her stance on Shaheen Bagh protests.
Conclusion
Viral post claiming that Babita Phogat has joined the ongoing wrestlers’ protest is false. The viral image features Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik.
Result: False
Sources
Report By Economic Times, Dated April 28, 2023
Report By Hindustan Times, Dated April 29, 2023
Report Published By News18 Website, Dated April 27, 2023
If you would like us to fact-check a claim, give feedback or lodge a complaint, WhatsApp us at 9999499044 or email us at checkthis@newschecker.in. You can also visit the Contact Us page and fill out the form.
Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
