Wrestler Vinesh Phogat who arrived in the national capital to a rousing reception at the Delhi Airport on Saturday thanked the people of the country for their support during Paris Olympics and said the fight is not over yet.

She was received by her fellow athletes Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik as well as Congress leader Deepender Hooda, and Panchayat leaders. The Indian wrestler was disqualified from the 50kg final in the Paris Olympics due to exceeding the weight limit by 100 grams.

During the roadshow after her arrival, the 29-year-old said she was grateful for the love and respect that she received from her country.

Addressing a gathering, Phogat said: “Although they didn’t give me the Gold medal, people here have given me that. The love and the respect that I have received is more than 1,000 Gold medals.”

The fellow wrestler Punia said that the love and respect she has received now is more than what she could’ve received after winning a Gold medal. He thanked the people of the entire nation for their support.

Premlata, mother of wrestler Vinesh Phogat said that everyone from her village and nearby areas have come here to welcome her. “We will felicitate her. She is a champion for me. The country has given her more honour than a gold medal”, she said.

Sharing pictures with the fighter on X, the Congress MP Hooda said: “Today, our sister Vinesh Phogat, the daughter of the country, who returned home like a brave warrior, was given a rousing welcome at the Delhi airport. In our eyes, you have been a winner in the past and will remain so in the future too. Your courage, struggle, and determination have not only won the hearts of crores of countrymen but you are an inspiration to crores of youth of the country.”

The Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also took to X and wrote in Hindi, “Everything is stacked ahead of it, this girl is a lion; Welcome Home Phogat.”

Nationalist Congress Party  (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday wondered why the upcoming state elections are not being held simultaneously despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushing for one nation one election and said there is no truth in what Prime Minister says.

Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, the 82-year-old politician said PM Modi in his Independence Day speech had pitched for one nation one election.

On Friday, the Election Commission announced that Jammu and Kashmir will have three-phase elections in September-October, while Haryana will have a single-round voting during the same period. The assembly elections in Maharashtra, which were held alongside Haryana in 2019, will be announced at a later date due to security requirements for Jammu and Kashmir.

The election dates for Jammu and Kashmir, and Haryana have been announced, but the dates for Jharkhand and Maharashtra have not been declared. Therefore, the NCP (SP) chief stated that there is no truth in what PM Modi says.

The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies, Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP (SP), previously criticised the Election Commission for the poll schedule and suggested that the BJP-led Mahayuti wanted more time to “fool” the people of Maharashtra with fake promises.

In response to concerns about tensions in Nashik and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar regarding alleged objectionable remarks by Hindu religious leader Ramgiri Maharaj against Prophet Mohammad and Islam, Pawar stated that it is not in the interest of society. The religious leader explained that his statement was made in reaction to the atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.

Pawar emphasised the need for peace and urged both society and politicians to be patient and cautious. He also called for the government and Home Department to take responsibility.

Regarding the regime change in Bangladesh, Pawar mentioned that there have been some reactions in a few places in India. He expressed surprise at the reactions coming from Maharashtra over the events in Bangladesh.

Amid uproar over the Kolkata agony, the Centre on Saturday announced that it will form a committee to suggest measures for ensuring the safety of healthcare workers in the country.

The Union Health Ministry also stated that the representatives of all stakeholders including the State governments will be invited to share their suggestions with the Committee.

Doctors nationwide have been protesting following the horrific rape and murder of a female doctor at the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata a few days ago. Their main demand is the enactment of a central law to guarantee severe penalties for individuals who assault healthcare professionals while they are on duty.

The Ministry requested the agitating doctors to resume their duties in the larger public interest given the rising cases of Dengue and Malaria.

Doctors and representatives from various medical organizations have announced protests in different locations across the country to express solidarity with the rape and murder victim from RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata.

The representatives of Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), Indian Medical Association (IMA), and Resident Doctors’ Associations of Governmental Medical Colleges & Hospitals of Delhi met the Ministry in the aftermath of the incident against a resident doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata.

The Ministry said the representatives of all the Associations were informed that the government is well aware of the situation and is sensitive to their demands.

The Ministry assured the Associations that it would form a Committee to recommend measures for ensuring the safety of healthcare professionals, in response to their concerns.

On the night of August 14, a mob of 5,000 to 7,000 people, including individuals, attacked protesting doctors and medical students at RG Kar Hospital, and attempted to ransack the premises.

Earlier today, doctors and students participated in a protest march, starting from Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital to Shyam Bazar in the city.