Olympian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined the Congress at a function at the party’s Delhi headquarters on Friday.
Asserting that it was a beginning of a “new innings” for her, Ms. Phogat said she felt proud to be part of a party and an ideology that stood against the exploitation and harassment of women, and fought for them on the streets and in Parliament.
Referring to her protests against the then Wrestling Federation of India president and former BJP MP, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, she said all political parties, except the BJP, stood by them when they were being dragged on the roads. “The BJP IT cell accused us of playing politics and labelled us ‘spent cartridges’, but I proved them wrong,” said Ms. Phogat, adding that they had paid the price for raising their voice, but “the fight is not yet over”.
Mr. Punia, an Olympic bronze medallist, thanked the Congress leaders for supporting them through difficult times. He said that they would work hard to strengthen the Congress and the country.
Later in the day, the All India Congress Committee appointed Mr. Punia as the working chairman of the All India Kisan Congress with immediate effect. Also, the party named Ms. Phogat as its candidate from the Julana seat in Haryana.
‘Socially committed duo’
Welcoming the duo to the party’s fold, AICC general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal said the two wrestlers stood not just for their fraternity, but also fought for the farmers and the Agniveers. This “showed their social commitment”, he said. Leaders emerged from movements, and these two had come from the biggest movement of the country, said Mr. Venugopal, adding that the Congress was “very proud to accept them”.
“Some people are criticising their joining the Congress. So many athletes and Olympians are in different parties, is that also a conspiracy?” he asked.
Mr. Venugopal said the Railways authorities had slapped show-cause notices on the two wrestlers after they had met Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, based on the media reports that two were going to contest polls. He warned the Railway authorities to “stop playing politics” and relieve them immediately now that they had formally resigned from their posts.
Earlier, the two wreslters called on party’s national president Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence before formally joining the party.
Published - September 06, 2024 12:47 pm IST
