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New Delhi: In a major development ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections, wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined the Congress on Friday, criticizing the BJP and pledging to work for women’s issues. Former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh responded on Saturday, accusing top Congress leaders and claiming, “the move began two years ago,” referring to Phogat and Punia’s protests against him, which involved sexual harassment allegations.
“About two years ago, these sportspersons had started a conspiracy on January 18. The day this all began, I had said that this was a political conspiracy. The Congress was involved in this, Deepender Hooda was involved, Bhupinder Hooda was involved. The entire script was written. This is not an agitation by sportspersons. And now after about two years, it has become clear that the Congress was involved in this drama,” PTI quoted Brij Bhusan as saying.
VIDEO | Here’s what former BJP MP and ex-WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh (@b_bhushansharan) said on wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat joining the Congress.
“About two years ago, these sportspersons had started a conspiracy on January 18. The day this all began, I had… pic.twitter.com/wa6EV9B4o8
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 7, 2024
Brij Bhushan took a potshot at Bhupinder Hooda and stated that congress leaders from Haryana are behind the “wrestlers movement”.
“The Congress was behind it, especially Bhupinder Hooda, Deepender Hooda, Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi. This is a movement of the Congress. In this entire movement, the conspiracy that happened against us, Bhupinder Hooda was leading it. I want to tell the people of Haryana that Bhupinder Hooda, Deepender Hooda, Bajrang or Vinesh, they were not sitting (on protest) for the respect of girls. Due to them, the daughters of Haryana are facing embarrassment. We are not responsible for it, Bhupinder Hooda and Deependra Hooda and these protesters are responsible for it,” news agency ANI quoted Brij Bhushan as saying.
“What will they answer on the day when it will be proved that I was not present in Delhi on the day of the incident on which allegations are being made? They used daughters for politics, defamed daughters. They were not fighting for the honour of daughters, they were fighting for politics,” Bhushan added.
Singh slammed Congress leaders who joined the wrestlers’ protests, stating that Congress leaders took part in the protests under the guise of seeking justice for wrestlers. Eventuallu wrestlers were turned into pawns by the Congress leaders. He also alleged that “The Congress, together with the wrestlers, has undermined wrestling in this country.”
In a significant political move, Olympians Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, who were at the forefront of the wrestlers’ protest against Brij Bhushan last year, officially joined the Congress party on Friday. The duo expressed their determination, stating they would “not be scared or back down.”
During the announcement, Vinesh Phogat addressed the ongoing legal battle surrounding the sexual harassment allegations against Brij Bhushan. “The fight is continuing; it hasn’t ended yet. It’s in court. We will win that fight as well,” she asserted. With their newfound political platform, she emphasized their commitment to serving the nation.
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