The BJP has asked former party MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to avoid making statements against wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia. This information was given on Sunday in an India Today report citing sources. This advice from the BJP high command has come at a time when the former head of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had raised questions against both the wrestlers for joining the Congress. He said that Phogat and Punia earned a name in wrestling and became famous through the sport. Now after joining the Congress, their name will be erased. It is known that Vinesh and Bajrang Punia were among the wrestlers who sat on a dharna against Brij Bhushan Singh last year. He was accused of exploiting many young wrestlers.
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said, ‘Congress used wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia as pawns in its conspiracy to take control of WFI and attack BJP. They had defeated Congress’ Deepender Hooda in the 2012 WFI elections, so they have a grudge against them.’ On the protest against Singh over allegations of sexual harassment, he said, ‘They were faces… they were pawns. Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupendra Hooda, Congress and the Congress family used them as pawns. He said, ‘It was all a conspiracy to take control of the Wrestling Federation of India and attack the BJP and its ideology… This team of Rahul, Congress keeps doing this kind of work.’
Vinesh and Bajrang protested against Brij Bhushan
Vinesh Phogat and Olympic bronze medalist Punia, along with another Olympic bronze medalist Sakshi Malik, led the movement. After this, Singh, a six-time Lok Sabha member from Kaiserganj constituency in Uttar Pradesh, had to step down from the post of WFI chief. He is also facing criminal charges in court. After his removal from the post, his close aide Sanjay Singh was elected the head of WFI. This organization has not yet received recognition from the Sports Ministry, while the world governing body of wrestling UWW has supported it. On Friday, Phogat and Punia had said that they would continue their fight against Brijbhushan Singh. Phogat had given a statement that no woman should have to endure what she had to endure. Congress has fielded Phogat from Julana seat of Haryana Assembly.
(With agency input)
