Day after Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia join Congress, Brij Bhushan Singh terms them ‘khalnayak’
Former Wrestling Federation of India president and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said if the wrestlers had not protests, India would have won more medals in the Olympics
Former Wrestling Federation of India president and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Saturday termed Congress leaders and wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajran Punia “khalnayak” (villains).
On September 6, the two ace wrestlers joined the Congress almost a month before the Haryana assembly polls.
Brij Bhushan said, “Vo khalnayak hai Haryana ke. Visheshkar khildaiyo ke (They are villains of Haryana, especially to athletes).”
“Who is Bajrang Punia to even talk to me? He used his wife for political gains. Vinesh Phogat broke the rules by participating in a trial. The rule is that a player cannot give a trial in two weight categories on the same day. She took away the rights of junior wrestlers by giving an incorrect trial. They hijacked the entire system. The same weight she hid here became her downfall there (in Paris Olympics),” Bhushah said.
He further asserted that if the two wrestlers step aside India will win at least five medals in next Olympics in wrestling.
“If these people hadn’t protested, we would have won five medals in wrestling. Let them step aside, and I announce that we will bring five medals in the next Olympics,” the BJP leader said.
“Today, if female athletes can’t walk with their heads held high, the reason is Bajrang, Vinesh, Bhupender Hooda, and the Congress party,” Brij Bhushan said.
Punia won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, while Vinesh Phogat became the first woman wrestler to reach the Olympics final in Paris last month.
The wrestlers resigned from their respective positions in Northern Railways earlier on Friday too.
Within hours of them joining the party, wrestler Vinesh Phogat was fielded in the Julana constituency for the upcoming Haryana polls. Whereas, Bajrang Punia was appointed working president of the All India Kisan Congress.