Wrestler and Congress candidate Vinesh Phogat kicked off her campaign from Julana for the upcoming Haryana assembly election on Sunday.
Phogat received a warm welcome from her supporters when she reached Julana. Elderly people, women and members of various 'khaps' greeted her and gave their blessings.
Wrestlers Phogat and Bajrang Punia, who were at the forefront leading the wrestlers' protest against then WFI chief and former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, joined the Congress party on Friday. After joining the party, Phogat said "not being scared or backing off".
VIDEO | Haryana Elections: "Whatever I have won in wrestling, it was because of people. Hopefully, I will be successful in this as well. I will talk about the wrestlers' protest at Jantar Mantar later, BJP had allowed us to sit there. Brij Bhushan is not the country, people are… pic.twitter.com/5YDaGwStfT
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 8, 2024
#WATCH | Delhi: Congress leader and wrestler Bajrang Punia says, "(If defeating Vinesh Phogat is easy) Then why is Nayab Singh Saini searching for a safe seat for himself? If he thinks that anyone can defeat Vinesh Phogat, then ask him to contest from Julana... He is welcome to… pic.twitter.com/vAXBqrucSb
— ANI (@ANI) September 8, 2024
While speaking to the reporters on Brij Bhushan's latest remarks against the wrestlers, Phogat said that everything he had said had been proved wrong and his latest comments would prove no different.
#WATCH | On Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joining Congress, Former WFI president and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh says, "On 18th January 2023 when the protest started at Jantar Mantar, I had said that this is not a movement of sportspersons, Congress is behind it,… pic.twitter.com/XLcwz34R4R
— ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2024
Brij Bhushan has said that Phogat's entry into politics only proved that the sexual allegations against him and the protest were staged by the Congress party.
He also alleged that Phogat violated rules in the Olympics by trying out for two different weight categories on the same day.
"My loved ones supported me. Like they ensured victory in wrestling (during her sports career), they will continue their blessings here (electoral contest) and with their blessings, we will win every battle," said Phogat.
While addressing a gathering at Bhakta Khera village, Phogat said at a stage when we were lacking courage and also felt like leaving the country, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi supported them and held them close.
"She told me not to lose courage and asked us to answer through wrestling," she said.
Criticising the wrestlers for joining politics, Brij Bhushan said, "These wrestlers made a name in the sport and became famous on the strength of wrestling. Now after joining Congress, their name will be erased.”
The 90-member Haryana Assembly is scheduled to go to polls on October 5 and the counting of votes will be undertaken on October 8.
