March 31, 2025: Olympic medallist Yogeshwar Dutt has taken a jibe at former wrestler-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat after it was confirmed that the Haryana government would extend benefits to her, equivalent to an Olympics silver medallist. These benefits come despite Phogat’s earlier protests against the government and her vocal opposition to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Yogeshwar Dutt expressed his dismay over Phogat’s apparent change of stance. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Dutt remarked, “Time is very powerful. Those who used to talk of throwing prize money at the government’s face are now begging for money in the Vidhan Sabha.” His comment was directed at Phogat, who, during the peak of the wrestlers’ protests, had threatened to throw away her medals in protest against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, amid sexual harassment allegations.
Vinesh Phogat, along with other top wrestlers like Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, had led the protest against Singh, demanding accountability. During this protest, Phogat had openly criticized the government and threatened to return her medals. However, following her political career shift and subsequent disqualification from the Paris Olympics, she has sought benefits from the Haryana government under Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s leadership.
In a statement last week, CM Saini confirmed that Phogat is entitled to the same benefits as a silver medalist, including a cash reward, a Group-A government job, or benefits under the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP). Saini added, “Vinesh is the daughter of Haryana, and we will not let her honour be diminished,” emphasizing that the decision on the benefits would be left to Vinesh to choose.
Vinesh’s move to politics, after announcing her retirement from wrestling, has been marked by controversy, particularly after her disqualification from the Paris Olympic Games for being found overweight by 100 grams before her final match. Despite these setbacks, she joined the Congress party, contested the Haryana assembly elections, and is now serving as an MLA from Julana.
Her shift in political affiliations and her acceptance of government benefits have been points of contention among her former wrestling peers, especially Yogeshwar Dutt, who feels that the wrestler’s past criticism of the government contradicts her current stance.