The Congress has expressed shock and disbelief that neither the Prime Minister nor the sports minister had issued any appeal to the wrestlers of international repute who went to Haridwar on Tuesday to immerse their medals in the Ganga, accusing the BJP politicians of being “cruel and insensitive”.

The wrestlers wanted to immerse their medals as a mark of protest against the inaction over the complaint of sexual harassment against BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India chairman Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Congress spokesperson Deepender Hooda said at a media conference on Wednesday: “It is unbelievable that Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose not to appeal to the wrestlers not to immerse their medals in the Ganga. These medals are as precious as their life to the sportspersons. The Prime Minister never misses any opportunity to call medal winners for photographs. But he remained aloof in this hour of crisis. This is cruel and insensitive.”

Hooda added: “Even the sports minister did not ask the wrestlers to change their decision. Not even BJP spokespersons expressed their concern. The entire nation is pained by this show of apathy. Thegovernment and the BJP sent out a message that they don’t care. They are also seeing the issue through the prism of caste and state. Are they suggesting the daughters of Haryana will not be given justice? Haryana has a glorious legacy in sports.”

Recalling that seven wrestlers, including a minor, had accused Brij Bhushan of sexual exploitation, Hooda said: “They were not even willing to register an FIR. The FIR was registered on the Supreme Court’s order. What message was sent out? Which girl will now go to the police to file an FIR if they know only the Supreme Court can help? A Haryana minister facing the charge of sexual exploitation has not been removed from the ministry. Are there two kinds of laws in the country?”