Posted on 14th October, 2024 (GMT 13:10 hrs)
ABSTRACT
The article critiques the contemporary influence of Nita Ambani and Jay Shah in Indian sports, highlighting Vinesh Phogat’s unjustified Olympic disqualification and accusing Ambani and Shah of benefiting from nepotism in their respective sports roles. It argues that Ambani and Shah’s powerful positions are unjustified, questioning their qualifications and linking their influence to political patronage from the ruling BJP. The piece also reflects on larger issues of crony capitalism and the state’s protection of oligarchs, framing Phogat’s struggle as part of a broader fight against corruption.
Vinesh Phogat, the famous female wrestler from India and recently elected Congress MLA from the Julana Assembly Seat in Haryana⤡, expressed disappointment over her unjustified 2024 Olympics disqualification, feeling that Nita Ambani (wife of Mr. Mukesh Ambani and mother-in-law of Mr. Anand Piramal, s/o Ajay Piramal) could have intervened in the said matter but rather chose not to. Phogat believes Ambani had enough influence within the International Olympic Committee to help in the matter, but she refrained from doing so. Phogat suggests that this lack of action reflects poorly on the Indian sports leadership at present.
Nita Ambani Hugging Ajay Piramal, with Mukesh Ambani Standing in the Background
‘Nita Ambani could have done something, but she didn’t’, Vinesh Phogat on her Olympics disqualification VIEW HERE ⤡ (As reported on 4th October, 2024 ©India Times)
Let us begin with the point that Mrs. Nita Ambani was (re-)elected as the International Olympic Committee Member from India.
Nita Ambani unanimously re-elected as International Olympic Committee member from India VIEW HERE ⤡ (As reported on 24th July, 2024 ©The Economic Times)
Moreover, in a similar pattern or in association with this, Amit Shah’s Son Jay Shah has been “unanimously” appointed as the new Independent Chair for the ICC, given his incumbent position as the Secretary of the BCCI as well.
Jay Shah elected unopposed as Independent Chair of International Cricket Council (ICC) VIEW HERE ⤡ (As reported on 27th August, 2024 ©ICC)
The question here is:
In what capacity do Nita Ambani and Jay Shah respectively occupy these positions in the sports sector without having the necessary qualifications for the same? What are their particular work experiences in this given field? What do they have to do with Sports as such, after all?
It is to be pointed out that Jay Shah, the newly elected chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), has an estimated net worth of around ₹124 crore (approximately $15 million). His wealth is primarily derived from his business ventures and his influential role in Indian cricket, including his position as Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Despite this significant net worth, Shah does not receive a formal salary as BCCI Secretary but instead has a daily allowance for his official duties, which is a sum of Rs 84,000.
SOURCE: Net worth and educational qualifications of ICC Chief Jay Shah VIEW HERE ⤡ (As reported on 2nd September, 2024 ©Times Entertainment)
Moreover, earlier it was observed that Amit Shah’s Son’s Company Sees 14,925% Increase in Income VIEW HERE ⤡ (As reported on 2nd November, 2019 ©Newsclick)
Referring back to where we were before regarding the “Ambani Affair”, Nita Ambani’s net worth as of 2024 is estimated to be between ₹2,340 to ₹2,510 crores. She is the chairperson and founder of Reliance Foundation and holds key positions in various other ventures, including being the co-owner of the IPL team Mumbai Indians. Nita Ambani also resides in Antilia, one of the most expensive private residences in the world, valued at ₹459 crore. Her luxury assets include the Falcon Supernova iPhone 6 Pink Diamond, priced at an astonishing ₹396 crore! This proves her utterly conspicuous consumption within the unfolding dynamic of ever-amplifying concentration of wealth in fewer hands in crony oligarchical India!
SOURCE: Nita Ambani Net Worth: Know How Much Mukesh Ambani’s Wife Earns VIEW HERE ⤡ (As reported on 21st August, 2024 ©Outlook Business)
It is also to be noted that both of them (Nita Ambani and Jay Shah) belong to the Mitaksara Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), for which they have to pay lesser taxes to the government. Thus, there is no Uniform Civil Code for the inhabitant human beings in this geo-political area, who are forcibly being placed under the supposed umbrella term “Hindu” as there are plural divides within this ethnographic umbrella, e. g., Dayabhaga Hindu-families do not have the same facilities as enjoyed by the Mitaksara Hindu families. If such blatant contradictions already do exist within the caste-based non-standardized “Hindu society”, i.e., if their homes have already been divided, how can the BJP proclaim to form the Uniform Civil Code for the Hindus? This is essentially a contradiction in terms.
UNIFORM CIVIL CODE FOR THE HINDUS? REALLY SO? VIEW HERE ⤡
HUF: The legal hack to double tax benefits and lower your tax outgo VIEW HERE ⤡ (As reported on 1st March, 2024 ©Business Standard)
In this context, it is worthwhile to notice that the income tax revenue loss due to the existence of such Hindu Undivided Families (HUF) has been a long-standing issue in India. Various reports and committees, including the Taxation Enquiry Commission (1953-54) and the Wanchoo Committee (1971), have highlighted how the preferential tax treatment of HUFs allows families to reduce their tax burden by splitting income. The 2018 Law Commission report also suggested that this setup facilitates tax avoidance, and argued for its consequent abolition.
HUFs (especially Mitaksara Hindus) are treated as separate legal entities altogether, allowing them to file taxes independently and enjoy exemptions like an additional ₹2.5 lakh exemption under the current laws. They can also make investments and claim other tax-saving benefits under the Income Tax Act, which aren’t available to other taxpayers. This creates potential revenue loss for the government, especially because non-Hindu families cannot access or avail these very benefits.
SOURCES:
Uniform Civil Code: Why it can impact Hindu Undivided Family’s tax benefits VIEW HERE ⤡ (As reported on 18th July, 2023 ©Optimize IAS)
Explained: How a Uniform Civil Code will impact succession and tax laws VIEW HERE ⤡ (As reported on 29th June, 2023 ©India Today)
Given this, the above highlighted question has only one possible answer: both of them are are very closely related or associated with the ruling party of India, i.e., the BJP. Jay Shah is the son of BJP Union Minister Amit Shah, whereas Nita Ambani is the wife of BJP’s closest crony associate, Mukesh Ambani. This kind of political patronage explains their appointments in such key positions or roles. This is further ignited by the previously quoted statement by Vinesh Phogat. Are these not instances of dynastic nepotism?
Netizens have voiced their frustration over Phogat’s assertion, calling for Nita Ambani to step down as a member of the IOC. Critics have slammed her perceived inaction, leading to widespread disappointment. Social media users feel that Ambani’s continued presence in the IOC is unjustified in light of these events.
‘Nita Ambani Should Quit’ Amid Vinesh Phogat Disqualification Row Netizens Slam IOC Member For Inaction VIEW HERE ⤡ (As reported on 7th August, 2024 ©Mashable)
Let us go back to 2023.
In January 2023, sit-in protests at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, by 30+ female wrestlers, brought sexual harassment allegations against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh into the public eye. After receiving assurances from the Central Government that a committee would be formed to investigate the claims, the protests were temporarily called off. The committee’s report was submitted on 5 April 2023 but was not made public. Frustrated by perceived inaction and bias in favor of Bhushan, the protesters resumed their demonstrations on 23 April 2023.
On May 3, 2023, the Delhi Police reported that Aam Aadmi Party MLA Somnath Bharti arrived at the protest site with his supporters, bringing camp beds without prior authorization. When police allegedly attempted to intervene, a clash broke out between them and the supporters, which the police described as a “minor altercation.” This led to the detention of Bharti and several other politicians backing the protest. Bajrang Punia, who was leading the demonstrations, alleged that he, along with Vinesh, Sangeeta, Dushyant Phogat, and Rahul Yadav, were assaulted and mishandled by the police. According to him, the beds were purchased to provide sleeping arrangements after rainfall. Protesters further claimed that an intoxicated officer misbehaved with and verbally abused Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Sangeeta Phogat. As a result of these clashes, Vinesh sustained a knee injury, and Rahul Yadav suffered a head injury. Another officer, also alleged to be drunk, struck Dushyant Phogat, causing a head injury. When the wrestlers demanded a medical test for the officer, the police removed him from the scene. The following day, the Delhi Police issued a press statement denying the use of force and noted that there were no female constables present during the incident. In the aftermath, the protest site was sealed, with police heavily barricading the roads leading to it. Additionally, a female journalist covering the protests was reportedly mishandled by the police.
SOURCE: 2023 Indian wrestlers’ protest VIEW HERE ⤡
Throughout this tumultuous time, the key figures of the political executive of the BJP seemed to be quite unbothered or unperturbed by these protests or clashes and were instead busy in fulfilling their vested interests for enriching their party funds. This displayed the sheer apathy of the present ruling party of India and their constant efforts to shield or protect such alleged molesters or rapists under their party’s head from time and again!
Brij Bhushan is a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which controls the Central Government as well as the Delhi Police. He thereby rightly became the center of all this controversy over the authorities’ alleged inaction. Despite laws requiring immediate registration of an FIR for serious offenses like sexual harassment, the Delhi Police initially refused to act in such a burning scenario! What a sorry state of affairs for Indian democracy indeed! FIRs were only registered following the intervention of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, with Bhushan being charged under the POCSO Act, where all offenses are considered cognizable.
As evident from all the news reports, our Vinesh Phogat took a leading role in these anti-ruling party protests since their very inception, and, as was seen, was bullied, harassed by the authorities during this time.
Vinesh Phogat: Top Indian wrestler returns medals to highlight alleged harassment VIEW HERE ⤡ (As reported on 31st December, 2023 ©BBC)
Vinesh Phogat: Protesting India wrestlers say police assaulted them VIEW HERE ⤡ (As reported on 4th May, 2023 ©BBC)
Wrestlers protest: Players say ‘will immerse medals in Ganga and fast until death at India Gate’ VIEW HERE ⤡ (As reported on 30th May, 2023 ©The Economic Times)
Vinesh Phogat’s redemption: From getting bullied in protests to Olympic medal winner, the greatest comeback story VIEW HERE ⤡ (As reported on 7th August, 2024 ©Hindustan Times)
This is perhaps the sole reason why Vinesh Phogat did not even receive a casual “congratulations” after she qualified for the final Gold Medal round. However, the Honourable PM did not hesitate to respond immediately after the controversial disqualification of Phoghat from this final round due to a very queer reason, viz., her hundred gms increased weight!
Was her nutritionist influenced/manipulated by these powerful agencies of the BJP in some manner? It is very much possible.
A nutrition strategy would have averted Olympic agony VIEW HERE ⤡ (As reported on 13th August, 2024 ©The Hindu)
It is no wonder why the Mo-Shah gang along with their crony allies, i.e., the Ambani family, are being legitimately and justifiably targeted by Vinesh Phogat in this context at the present hour, given her predominant role in leading the wrestlers’ protests in a mass scale against the deliberate legitimization of rapists/molesters/harassers within the contemporary political juncture.
And yet, the state continues to function as a guardian of the institution of private property by creating a hedge of protection through “Z+ security” in and around Ambani families in India and abroad, which is paid by the Ambani family itself.
Ambanis To Get Z+ Security Cover Across India, Abroad: Supreme Court VIEW HERE ⤡ (As reported on 28th February, 2023 ©NDTV)
Even Jay Shah, as belonging to the Union Minister’s family, also receives such similar security/protection. He does not have to pay anything for receiving this VIP service, and the outstanding expenditure is given out from taxpayers’ money. It was in 2014 itself when: Amit Shah gets promoted to ‘Z-plus’ security cover VIEW HERE ⤡ (As reported on 3rd July, 2014 ©The Economic Times)
Upon discovering this intricate network of relations amidst the present ruling party and the crony business tycoons in influencing significant decisions, be it in sports, administration or in the case of well-substantiated rape allegations, we are displaying our solidarity with Vinesh Phogat, who has emerged victorious in her anti-establishment perseverance, in her truly inspiring “sportswoman spirit”! We decry and rebuke Mr. Modi’s lip-service compliments to Vinesh Phogat, and genuinely stand with her in her exemplary struggle against the contaminating forces of Saffron Fascism, which breeds itself on hyper-masculine domination.
In the end, we remember one song from “Dangal”, a film made on the Phogat sisters, which had the line: “Bapu sehat ke liye, tu to haanikarak hai” (Oh father, you are injurious to health!).
We might have to the tweak the lines a little in the present context:
Mo-Shah-Ambani,
“Desh ki sehat ke liye, tumlog haanikarak ho!”
(Oh Modi, Shah, Ambani— you all are injurious to the nation’s health!)
Once in a Blue Moon Academia 
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