Vinesh Phogat on Friday joined the Congress party ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections, scheduled to take place next month.“It was only the Congress party who understood our tears,” said Vinesh Phogat minutes after she joined the Congress party on Friday
. Calling it a new chapter in her life, the wrestler-turned-politician stated that she will continue to work for the rights of other athletes.
Referring to the ongoing sexual harassment case against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Singh, Phogat added, “This is a new chapter in my life. I will work for other athletes so that they don’t have to go through what we went through.”
Political Support Amid Struggles
Phogat remarked that during the wrestlers’ protests against Singh, all political parties, except the BJP, stood by them. The wrestlers had taken to the streets demanding justice for the sexual harassment allegations, and Phogat expressed her frustration with the BJP’s response.
“I could have quit wrestling at Jantar Mantar because the BJP’s IT cell was publicising that we were spent forces. They said I did not want to play in the nationals, but I did; they said I did not want to do trials, I did that… They said I could not go to the Olympics, but I did… Unfortunately, it was not God’s will,” she said, in reference to her career battles amidst the allegations.
“The fight is continuing, it hasn’t ended yet. It’s in Court. We will win that fight as well… With the new platform that we are getting today, we will work for the service of the nation,” Phogat said, expressing her determination to continue advocating for justice and fair treatment for athletes.
Phogat also directed a message to women and athletes, assuring them of her support. “The way we played our game with heart, we will give our best to work for our people. I want to tell my sisters, that I am with them. If there will be no one for you, I will be there, Congress party will be there. I have felt this, and I can assure you that we will be there for sure,” she added.
#WATCH | Delhi | On joining Congress, Vinesh Phogat says, "I thank Congress party…Kehte hain na ki bure time mein pata lagta hai ki apna kaun hai…When we were being dragged on the road, all parties except BJP were with us. I feel proud that I have joined a party which stands… pic.twitter.com/FIV1FLQeXa
— ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2024
Vinesh Phogat on Paris Olympics Medal Row
Vinesh Phogat also addressed the controversy surrounding her disqualification ahead of her final match at the Paris Olympics, hinting that there may have been political motives behind it. She was disqualified from the gold medal bout after weighing 100 grams over the limit during the morning weigh-in.
When asked if there was a political conspiracy behind her disqualification, Phogat responded emotionally, “It is a very emotional thing for me. I will talk in detail about it one day. Be patient, I will speak on it one day,” indicating that she plans to share more information in the future.
Bajrang Punia Joins Congress
Along with Vinesh Phogat, fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia also joined the Congress party. In his speech, Punia voiced his commitment to working for the betterment of the nation through Congress.
“…What BJP’s IT Cell is saying today—that we just wanted to do politics… We had written to all women BJP MPs to stand with us but they still didn’t come. We are paying to raise the voices of women, but now we know that BJP stands with atrocities against women, and all other parties stand with us. We will work hard to strengthen the Congress party and the nation,” Punia said.
Punia also reflected on the moments when Phogat reached the finals of her wrestling event. “The day Vinesh qualified for finals, the country was happy, but the next day everyone was sad. At that time, one IT Cell was celebrating…” he remarked, alluding to the political atmosphere surrounding the wrestlers’ journey.
#WATCH | Delhi | On joining Congress, Bajrang Punia says, "…What BJP IT Cell is saying today that we just wanted to do politics…We had written to all women BJP MPs to stand with us but they still didn't come. We are paying to raise the voices of women but now we know that BJP… pic.twitter.com/FGViVeGJLY
— ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2024
Joining Congress: A New Chapter
Phogat and Punia were welcomed into the Congress party by senior leaders KC Venugopal, Pawan Khera, and Haryana Congress chief Uday Bhan at a press conference in New Delhi. The two athletes had also met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge prior to joining.
However, the Congress party has not yet confirmed whether Phogat and Punia will contest the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections. According to party sources, the decision on giving them election tickets will be made by the party’s election panel in the coming days.
BJP’s Reaction
The BJP responded to the wrestlers joining Congress with mixed reactions. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini criticized the move, claiming that the Congress party is politicizing the wrestlers’ protest.
“If they wanted to give these wrestlers a party ticket, they could have given them a Rajya Sabha ticket, but they are only doing politics,” Saini remarked, dismissing the idea of a genuine alliance.
Sambit Patra, BJP spokesperson and MP, shared his perspective, “Anyone can join any party, but people and intellectuals will ask questions. I will not answer this question, but yes, people will ask questions.”
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Anil Vij took a more personal dig at Vinesh Phogat’s decision to join Congress. “…Agar woh desh ki beti sey Congress ki beti banna chaahti hai, to hamein kya etraaz hai (if Vinesh wants to become Congress’ daughter from being the country’s daughter, what objection can we have),” said the former Haryana home minister, implying that Phogat’s decision was a step away from her previous role as a national sports figure.
Vij further claimed that the Congress had been instigating the wrestlers’ protests in Delhi from the beginning. “It was because of their (Congress’) instigation that the (Delhi) protest was going on, otherwise the matter would have settled long before,” he said, accusing the party of deliberately prolonging the movement.
Background: The Wrestlers’ Protest
Phogat and Punia were key figures in the months-long protest in 2023 against Brij Bhushan Singh, who was accused of sexually harassing female wrestlers. The protests gained widespread attention, with political parties—except the BJP—voicing their support for the wrestlers’ demands for justice.
As these two athletes now transition into the political arena, their decision to join Congress reflects their continued commitment to fighting for the rights of women and athletes in India.
