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On Friday, September 6, two of the esteemed Indian wrestlers and Olympians, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined Congress after the two had earlier met former INC President Rahul Gandhi, among several senior members. While Phogat, who was marred amidst controversy after she was disqualified from her gold medal match at the 2024 Paris Olympics, was fielded from Julana seat, Punia was named the working president of All India Kisan Congress.
A day after their joining, former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Chief, Brij Bhushan Singh Sharan launched a scathing attack on the wrestlers, while taking a direct hit to the political party, Congress. Brij Bhushan said that all of this was scripted and the entire wrestling movement was a “conspiracy”, ruled by the Congress.
Congress was involved in this drama: Brij Bhushan Singh Sharan
Highlighting the protest over sexual harassment allegations against the former BJP MP and the then WFI Chief, Brij Bhushan said, "On 18th January 2023, when the protest started at Jantar Mantar, I said that this is not a movement of sportspersons, Congress is behind it. Especially Bhupinder Hooda, Deepender Hooda, Priyanka ji, and Rahul ji. This is a movement of Congress. And today this thing has been proved. In this entire movement, the conspiracy that happened against us, Congress was involved in it and Bhupinder Hooda was leading it.”
"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," he added.
God punished you: Brij Bhushan takes “cheating” dig at Vinesh Phogat
The former WFI Chief did not stop as he further went on to make “cheating” remarks on Vinesh Phogat after the series of events which unfolded this year at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He claimed that the Indian Olympian could not secure the medal because “God punished her”.
Speaking to the media, Brij Bhushan Singh said, “I want to ask Vinesh Phogat whether a player can give trials in two weight categories in one day? Can the trials be paused for five hours after the weigh-in?... You did not win the wrestling; you went there by cheating. God has punished you for it.”
This exposes the mentality of Brij Bhushan Singh: Bajrang Punia reacts after former WFI Chief’s comments
On the contrary, Bajrang Punia was quick to react after Brij Bhushan Singh Sharan made “cheating” claims on Vinesh Phogat. The Olympic medallist hit back at the BJP leader, expressing his outrage in the matter. In an exclusive interview with India Today, Punia said, "This exposes the mentality of Brij Bhushan Singh towards the country. It was not Vinesh's medal. It was 140 crore Indians' medal. And he is gloating at her loss.” "Those who celebrated Vinesh's disqualification, are they deshbhakts? We are fighting for the country since childhood, and they dare to teach us patriotism. They are molesting girls," he further added.
