The Trinamool Congress (TMC) walked out of a meeting of the Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports on Thursday after deliberations on safety provisions for women athletes at various sports federations in the context of the ongoing protests by wrestlers was disallowed.
Panel Chairman and BJP MP Vivek Thakur dismissed the questions raised by TMC MPs Sushmita Dev and Asit Kumar Mal, saying it was not part of the meeting’s agenda and the issue is sub-judice. The meeting was called to deliberate on “Olympic preparedness and Target Olympic Podium Scheme [TOPS]” on which Sports Secretary Sujata Chaturvedi briefed the panel.
According to sources, after Ms. Chaturvedi’s presentation ended, Ms. Dev asked if internal complaints committees were formed at different sports federations and whether they were active. The question, Ms. Dev said, was whether the stadiums and gyms, which as per the sexual harassment laws fall under definition of workplace, were safe for our athletes. But she was reminded that her questions were beyond the day’s agenda.
