Congress behind the wrestlers protest, says WFI chief day after Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia join Congress – Firstpost
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Sanjay Singh once again claimed the protest against former chief and ex-BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and the organisation was ‘politically motivated’. The claim came a day after Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, two wrestlers who were at the forefront of the protest,
joined the Congress and will contest the Haryana assembly elections.
“…They joined Congress, so this proves that they were behind that protest. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was associated with BJP, I am not associated with any party or person but they opposed me too. So this whole protest was politically motivated,” said Sanjay Singh.
“They started the protest and Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh distanced himself from wrestling, so the issue should have ended there, but it was politically motivated and Congress was behind it.
“Sakshi Malik is no different, she is also with them. 99% of the players of Haryana are with us,” he claimed.
Sakshi, a Rio Olympics medallist, had retired in the aftermath of WFI elections where Sanjay, considered to be close to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, was appointed as the president.
The duo of Vinesh and Punia joined the Congress on Friday with a vow of “not being scared or backing off”.
While there was no clarity yet on whether Punia would contest the polls, the party leaders confirmed that Phogat would contest from the Julana assembly segment.
Hours after joining the Congress, Punia was appointed the working chairman of All India Kisan Congress by the party.
Phogat and Punia met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence and later joined the party at the AICC headquarters in the presence of Congress general secretary in-charge organisation KC Venugopal, AICC general secretary in-charge Haryana Deepak Babaria, Haryana Congress chief Uday Bhan and the party’s media and publicity department head Pawan Khera.
At the press conference during which they joined the party, Venugopal claimed that Phogat received a show cause notice from the Railways after she met Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday. Party sources said the notice talked about violating service rules by meeting the political leaders.
Venugopal asked if it was a crime to meet the leader of the opposition and urged the Railway authorities to relieve Phogat and not “play politics”.
Without elaborating, Venugopal claimed that Punia had also got a notice.
Phogat on Friday resigned from the Indian Railways, citing personal reasons.
After joining the party, Phogat said the BJP was supporting Singh while the Congress supported the protesting wrestlers when they “were being dragged on the roads” in Delhi.
Punia and Phogat were part of the protest over sexual harassment allegations against former BJP MP and then Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Singh in 2023.
मैं कांग्रेस का बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद करती हूं, क्योंकि बुरे समय में ही पता चलता है- अपना कौन है।
जब हमें सड़क पर घसीटा जा रहा था, तो BJP को छोड़कर आप सभी हमारे साथ थे। आप हमारे दर्द और आंसुओं को समझ पा रहे थे।
मुझे गर्व है कि मैं एक ऐसी विचारधारा से जुड़ी हूं, जो महिलाओं पर हो… pic.twitter.com/MWo8N0EpaV
— Congress (@INCIndia) September 6, 2024
“I thank the people of the country and the media, you supported me throughout my wrestling journey. I thank the Congress party, it is said tough times tell you about who is with you. When we were dragged on the roads, all parties except the BJP stood with us and understood our pain and tears,” the 30-year-old said at the press conference.
She said she felt proud that she was with a party and an ideology that stood against injustice on women and was ready to fight the battle from the streets to Parliament.
“I could have quit wrestling at Jantar Mantar and people also thought so (that I would do so). The BJP IT Cell propagated that we were a spent force and indulging in politics. They said I didn’t want to play in the nationals, I played the nationals. They said she did not want to give trials, I gave trials. They said she does not want to fight at the Olympic level, I did that and reached the finals. Unfortunately, God had other plans,” she said.
“I am starting a new innings. I want sportspersons don’t have to face what we had to go through,” Phogat said, adding that her move might inspire them.
“Sportspersons are wronged many times but are unable to speak out. Look at us, they got Bajrang banned for four years on doping charges because he stood with us So we are paying a price, we will not be scared and won’t back off. The fight will continue. Our court case is going on, we will win that also, we will win in life,” she said.
Phogat said they would be among the people and ensure their welfare.
She said she would like to tell the women that she was standing with them and that the Congress was standing with them whenever they faced any problem.
मैं सभी का धन्यवाद देता हूं।
हम अन्याय के खिलाफ साथ मिलकर लड़ेंगे और हर संघर्ष में कांग्रेस के साथ खड़े रहेंगे।
हमने महिला पहलवानों पर हो रहे अन्याय के खिलाफ BJP की महिला सांसदों को पत्र लिखा था, लेकिन कोई हमारे साथ खड़ा नहीं हुआ।
लेकिन कांग्रेस हर मोड़ पर हमारे साथ खड़ी रही।… pic.twitter.com/VSMowHH8LV
— Congress (@INCIndia) September 6, 2024
Punia said the Congress stood with them during their tough times.
“What the BJP IT Cell is saying today that we just wanted to do politics We had written to all women BJP MPs to stand with us but they didn’t come. We are paying the price for raising our voices for women but now we know that the BJP stands with atrocities against women at Jantar Mantar and all other parties stand with us,” he said.
“We will work hard to strengthen the Congress and the nation The day Vinesh qualified for the finals, the country was happy but the next day everyone was sad. At that time, one IT cell was celebrating,” he said in a swipe at the BJP.
Venugopal said that it was a “big day” for the Congress and a proud moment “for all of us” to welcome Phogat and Punia into the party fold.
Polling for 90 seats in Haryana will be held on October 5 and the votes will be counted on October 8.
Brij Bhushan downplays Phogat, Punia’s impact
Downplaying Phogat and Punia’s foray into politics,
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said any BJP candidate will defeat them.
The former BJP MP from Kaiserganj constituency also offered to campaign in the upcoming elections if the party approved.
“These wrestlers made a name in the sport and became famous on the strength of wrestling. Now after joining Congress, their name will be erased,” Singh, who had been removed as Indian wrestling chief after being accused of sexually harassing severa female wrestlers, told journalists at his residence in Vishnoharpur near Gonda, Uttar Pradesh.
Reacting to this development, Singh said, “These people consider politics to be a wind. They are thinking that they will win the assembly elections from Haryana. They can contest from any assembly seat in Haryana, a small BJP candidate will defeat them.”
He went on to add: “If my party directs, I will also go and campaign in the Haryana assembly elections. I claim that I will get maximum support from the people of their community. I am ready to campaign in favour of the BJP candidate in front of them as well.”
(with inputs from PTI)
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