Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Sanjay Singh expressed no surprise over wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia's decision to join the Congress party before Haryana's upcoming Assembly elections.
Singh, in an interview, stated that while Phogat and Punia were known for their wrestling achievements till now, but they will henceforth be viewed as "pawns" of Congress. He added that their joining clarifies who was behind the wrestlers' protests in Delhi.
Singh's remarks came after Olympians Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, who were at the forefront of the wrestlers' protest against then WFI chief and former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, entered the political arena on September 6 by joining the Congress with a vow of "not being scared or backing off".
Hours after joining the Congress, Punia was appointed the working chairman of All India Kisan Congress by the party. Meanwhile, Phogat is set to contest the upcoming assembly polls in Haryana from Julana.
Singh levelled serious charges against the two Haryana wrestlers and said the country paid a heavy price because of their motivated protest, which was apparently backed by the Congress. “Congress and the said wrestlers have committed an act of 'desh droh' (treason) in an Olympic year. We lost at least six medals because of them,” he said in an interview with IANS.
“Deepender Hooda was behind it. He orchestrated the entire protest,” Singh claimed.
Phogat and Punia joined the party in the presence of Congress general secretary 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.
"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," Phogat said.
Polling for 90 seats in Haryana will be held on October 5 and the votes counted on October 8.
(With agencies inputs)
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