Following accusations from Sakshi Malik that Babita Phogat was pursuing her own agenda during the wrestlers’ protest, the BJP leader responded with a subtle critique, stating, “Kitab bechne ke chakkar mei imaan bech diya” (integrity was sold to sell the book). This comment references Sakshi’s recently released autobiography, *Witness*.
Babita Phogat emphasized the importance of authenticity, saying, “Shine with your own character; how long will the borrowed light last?” She noted that while some individuals gained assembly seats or positions, Sakshi did not achieve similar recognition, expressing empathy for her situation.
In her memoir, Sakshi alleged that Babita sought to become the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and used the protest against Brij Bhushan Singh as a platform for her ambitions. “Babita approached us with the idea of protesting because she had her own agenda,” Sakshi stated in an interview.
Mahavir Phogat, Babita’s father, defended his daughter, claiming Sakshi’s comments aligned with the Congress narrative. He asserted that Babita had advocated for player agreements and that he had supported the protests. He suggested that statements from Priyanka Gandhi and Deepender Hooda were being conveyed through Sakshi.
Vinesh Phogat also weighed in, although without directly naming Sakshi. “Don’t believe everything you hear. There are always three sides to a story—yours, theirs, and the truth,” said the newly elected Haryana MLA. She further questioned the notion of greed, asserting that advocating for fellow athletes should not be viewed negatively. “If striving for medals for the country at the Olympics is considered greed, then that greed will remain with us until our last breath,” she concluded.
Earlier this week, Sakshi stirred controversy by alleging in her memoir that Vinesh and Bajrang Punia had taken exemptions from the trials for the 2023 Asian Games, a claim she argued undermined the wrestlers’ movement against the former WFI president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan.