Hockey Player Vandana Katariya Says: We Play For Country, Caste-ing Baazi Shouldn't Happen

Vandana Katariya statement on casteist remarks: A day after two men were arrested from the Roshnabad area of Haridwar, Uttarakhand for allegedly mocking and passing casteist remarks against the family of the Indian Hockey athlete, Katariya said that she plays for the country and shouldn't be attacked personally on the basis of caste.

Reportedly, two men danced and burst firecrackers outside Katariya's house in a gesture of mockery on Wednesday evening. It was after the Indian female hockey team lost to Argentina in a semifinal match at the Tokyo Olympics. According to an official at the State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited (SIDCUL) police station, the men also passed casteist remarks against the athlete's family.

Vandana Katariya Statement On Casteist Remarks Passed On Her Family:

On being abused after the team's loss to Argentina, Katariya said in a statement that she wished an end to casteist slurs.

Katariya said, "Hum log country ke liye khel rahe hai ..aur jo bhi kuch bhi ho raha hai, uske liye kuch bhi na kare, like ‘caste-ing baazi’ jo maine thoda sa suna tha, woh sab na ho. ( We are playing for the country and whatever is happening should not happen. Like the casteist remarks. Whatever I've heard about it, don't do that.)

Katariya added that young girls are playing for the country, hence, the country must unite and support them.

Vandana Katariya Abused By Neighbours For Team's Loss

Katariya who is at the Olympic village at the moment heard about the appalling incident. However, she did not have enough time to talk to her family about the same as of now.

After India lost to Argentina in the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics, Katariya's family alleged on Wednesday that a group of people in their locality mocked the Indian athlete by bursting crackers, dancing in celebration and abusing them on the basis of caste.

The main accused was identified as Vijay Pal.

The police filed a case against the youth and other unidentified accused under IPC Section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and SC/ST Act after Katariya's family reported the incident. Following the same, the police arrested Pal and one other in the case.

Katariya's brother Chandra Shekhar told the Indian Express, "They (the accused group of youth) said how can people of my caste play in the national team?"

He added that his family is in a state of fear as the youths allegedly threatened to kill them.

Katariya hasn't made any other comment on the incident and stated that she will do so only after talking to her family about the incident. She added, "When I speak to them, I’ll make comments about this incident. Just that we are all playing for the country."

Read: Olympic Star Vandana Katariya’s Family Faces Casteist Abuse Post Hockey Defeat