From wrestling mat to political turf, Olympian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia finally took the plunge into political waters, an unchartered territory for them till now, which they accepted their new working field. The duo wrestlers joined the Congress, putting an end to the speculations about their future move.
Reports revealed the wrestlers first met the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence before officially joining the party at an event at headquarters in the presence of KC Venugopal, the General Secretary (Organisation) of the party.
Post induction of the due sportspersons, KC Venugopal said that it was a proud moment for the Congress to welcome both into the party.
Before taking the political plunge, both the Olympians had resigned from Indian Railways even though they were issued show-cause notice after they met Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday. KC Venugopal, maintained that whether it was a crime to meet the Leader of Opposition and urged the Railway authorities to relieve Phogat and not “play politics”.
He said leaders would come through movements and the duo had come through one of the “biggest movement” of the year, referring to the protest led by them along with others against former Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Singh on pretext of alleged sexual harassment.
He also debunked allegations of ‘conspiracy’ behind wrestlers protest. “Some people are criticizing their decision to join Congress. So many athletes and Olympians are in different parties, is that also a conspiracy?” Venugopal questioned.
Meanwhile, after joining the Congress, Vinesh Phogat thanked the Congress for its support during the protest of wrestlers, a time of distress for them, as the ruling BJP was all out in support of Brij Bhushan Singh, when they “were being dragged on the roads” in Delhi.
She said that she would continue her fight against the former Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Singh, accused of sexual harassment of female wrestlers and vowed to bring him to justice.
“When we were dragged on the roads, all parties except the BJP stood with us. I am starting a new innings. I aim that no sportspersons ever has to face what we had to go through. I am not scared and won’t back off. Our court case is going on, we will win that also,” she told reporters.
Further Bajrang Punia said the BJP IT Cell was accusing them of playing politics, but reminded them that the protesting wrestlers had invited BJP women MPs to join their protest but they ignored and instead Congress stood with us.
Phogat to contest from Julana, Punia yet to be fielded
In the first list of 31 candidates released by Congress for the forthcoming Haryana assembly polls, Vinesh Phogat will contest from Julana assembly constituency while the party was yet to field Bajrang Punia as the two constituencies deemed fit for him were represented by sitting MLAs of the party and the latter did not want to disturb their present hold. Insiders in the party informed that if the party had requisite strength in Rajya Sabha, it would have sent Phogat to the Upper House.
“Congress ki beti” from “desh ki beti”
Senior Haryana BJP leader and former Haryana home minister Anil Vij took a dig at wrestler Vinesh Phogat over joining the Congress on Friday, saying that who could have objection if Phogat wanted to become from ‘Desh ki beti’ to ‘Congress ki beti’.
The former minister had reacted after he was asked, hours before Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined the Congress on Friday.
“Agar woh desh ki beti sey Congress ki beti banna chaahti hai, to hamein kya etraaz hai (if she wants to become daughter of Congress party from being daughter of the country, what objection can we have),” Vij said.
