Indian Olympic wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia have joined the opposition Congress, embarking on a political journey.
The development came a year after he led a major protest against alleged sexual harassment of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief.
Vinesh Phogat joined the Congress a few weeks after his emotional return from the Paris Olympics last month.
Phogat failed to lose 100 grams to compete in the women’s 50kg freestyle final at the Paris Olympics despite starving herself for the cause.
Failure to cut weight forced the 30-year-old Asian Games gold medalist to announce her retirement.
After that, he received a lot of support from his fans and wrestlers. On reaching Delhi, he was welcomed by hundreds of fans and wrestlers with tears in their eyes. He was taken to his village with a road show.
Phogat, an Asian Games gold medalist, will contest the upcoming assembly elections from Julana in her home state of Haryana’s Jund district, while Punia has been appointed as the working chairman of the All India Kisan Congress.
After joining the Congress, Phogat said, ‘I want to thank the people of the country who have supported me during my wrestling career and I hope I live up to their expectations. I am very proud to be associated with a party that stands against abuse and injustice against women.’
Both wrestlers’ foray into politics came after protests against allegations of sexual harassment against sports governing body chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in India. The protest was widely publicized.
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Singh has denied any wrongdoing. He alleged that Phogat and some others were part of a ‘political conspiracy’ against him.
Referring to the ongoing court battle against sexual harassment allegations, Phogat said: ‘The battle is not over yet. It continues.
‘We will win this war too. Through the new platform we are getting today, we will work to serve the country.’
Bajrang Punia, who won a bronze medal in the men’s 65kg wrestling at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, added, “The hard work we put in during the protests and in supporting the farmers, soldiers and youths, we are proud of our country.” will continue.’
The entry of wrestlers into the Congress is being considered as a big boost for the Congress party ahead of the elections in Haryana.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is trying to come to power for the third time in the state.
After inducting the wrestlers into the party in New Delhi, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said in a conversation with reporters that they not only brought honor to the country on the field of sports but also fought a mighty battle against injustice on the streets. ‘
Congress has announced the list of 32 candidates for the Haryana assembly elections. These elections will be held on October 5. The results will be announced on October 8.
On the other hand, Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh claimed that the protest was carried out under a plan. He accused the Congress of fighting for politics.
He said that ‘those people were not fighting for the honor of their daughters but for politics.’
He offered to campaign for the BJP in Haryana.
He is confident that his community will support him. They are willing to do so ‘right in front’ of Phogat and others.
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2024-09-08 14:04:26
