Olympic wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined the Congress party on Friday ahead of next month's Haryana Assembly polls. The wrestlers met Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi before addressing a press briefing where party leader KC Venugopal announced their induction.
The long-speculated development came two days after they met with Congress MP and former party chief Rahul Gandhi in Delhi.
Speaking after joining the Congress, Phogat said she was proud to be inducted into the party that supports women. "I thank the Congress party. We know very well who supported us genuinely during our bad times. When we were being dragged on the roads (during the wrestlers' protest), all other parties were us, except for the BJP," she said.
Phogat and Punia were amongst the number of wrestlers who had protested against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, former BJP MP and then chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), whom they accused of harassing several young junior wrestlers.
Accusing the BJP of maligning her image, Vinesh Phogat said on Friday that the wrestlers' battle against Singh would continue in court.
"I stand with every woman who finds herself helpless. Had I wanted, I could have left wrestling in Jantar Mantar. BJP IT Cell peddled lies that our career is over and that we don’t want to play in nationals. I played in nationals and in the Olympics. But then, God had different plans for me," she said.
"Bajrang was banned for four years on dope charges because he stood with us. Our battle (against Brij Bhushan) will continue in the court," she added. Voicing similar sentiments, Punia said Congress stood with the wrestlers and alleged that the BJP did injustice to women wrestlers.
"BJP IT Cell is saying our only aim was to do politics. We invited the BJP and their women MPs (to join us for the protest). Even then, they didn’t stand with the daughters. But the Congress stood with us," he said.
Punia alleged that the BJP was celebrating Phogat's disqualification from the Paris Olympics when the entire country was shocked, on the other hand.
"When Vinesh reached the final (of the wrestling match), the entire country was happy. When she was disqualified unfortunately, the BJP IT cell people were celebrating it," he said.
Last month, Phogat tragically missed out on an Olympic medal due to disqualification after she was found to be 150 grams overweight. Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda proposed offering her a Rajya Sabha seat in recognition of her achievements; Phogat, however, was ineligible due to her age.
On his part, Venugopal praised Phogat and Punia for their contributions in wrestling.
"The most disappointing news for India was that she had been disqualified from the Olympics. The entire country stood with her. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and all other INDIA leaders stood with them. They fought for the farmers and Agniveers. They know which political party they should trust," he said.
Speaking about Phogat's resignation from Railways, Venugopal urged the Railway authorities to stop doing politics and accept her resignation.
"Vinesh was served a notice by the Railways. What is their crime? That they met Rahul Gandhi. Bajrang was also given a post by the Railways. Now, the entire country will be with them," he said.
Venugopal's reaction came after Vinesh Phogat resigned from her post in Railways earlier today.
Calling it a "memorable and proud time" of her life, she tweeted, "At this point in my life, I have decided to separate myself from the railway service and have submitted my resignation to the competent authorities of the Indian Railways. I will always be grateful to the Indian Railway family for this opportunity given to me by the Railways in the service of the nation."
After the meeting between Rahul Gandhi and the wrestlers, former Haryana Chief Minister and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said, "I think our athletes got trapped in a political maze during the protests. What started back then is reaching its climax now. The wrestlers' protests were politically motivated. These people (wrestlers) are seeking a ticket from the Congress. This means that there is a nexus. If it wasn't clear then, it is absolutely clear now," news agency ANI reported.
With the induction of Phogat and Punia, the Congress is hoping to capitalise on the anti-incumbency sentiment stirring in Haryana. The entry of the two veteran wrestlers into electoral politics could also help the party boost Jat votes.
Assembly election in Haryana will be held on October 5 and results would be declared on October 8.
Source: India Today