Olympic medalist and recently joined Congress, Bajrang Punia has hit back at BJP leader and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Brij Bhushan Singh had said that Vinesh Phogat deserved to be disqualified from the Paris Olympics. Bajrang Punia has said that this shows his mentality. Bajrang Punia has alleged that the way Vinesh Phogat missed the medal in the Paris Olympics was a matter of national mourning but the BJP’s IT cell ran a campaign to mock and humiliate her.
In a conversation with India Today, Punia lashed out at Brij Bhushan Singh’s recent statement. Bajrang Punia said, “This shows Brij Bhushan Singh’s mindset towards the country. It was not Vinesh’s medal. It was the medal of 140 crore Indians and he is celebrating her defeat.” He alleged, “Are those who celebrate Vinesh’s disqualification patriots? We have been fighting for the country since childhood and he dares to teach us patriotism. He is one of those who molest girls.”
Whatever happened to him was for the right- Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment by several women wrestlers, had claimed that Phogat lost the chance to win an Olympic medal because God has punished her. In his first reaction after Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined the Congress, Brij Bhushan Singh alleged that Phogat had committed dishonesty by unfairly taking the place of another wrestler in the Olympics. He said, “She went to the Olympics by taking the place of the girl who defeated her in the trials and created a ruckus. So whatever happened to her was fair and she deserved it.”
I have no hope from PM Modi now- Bajrang Punia
Reacting sharply to Brij Bhushan Singh’s remarks, Bajrang Punia said he has committed a crime by naming Phogat in the context of the sexual harassment case. “We never told which wrestler was molested. He committed a crime by naming Vinesh,” Punia said. “If girls had the guts to slap, you would have got a lot of slaps,” he added. Punia also accused the BJP of protecting Singh and using central agencies to target wrestlers who spoke against the former WFI chief. “Brij Bhushan Singh is a history-sheeter who has charges ranging from theft to treason. The BJP is supporting him. I have no hope from PM Modi now. Agencies were used against me. I was banned on dope charges. I have no hope from the WFI president either,” he said.
Not contesting Haryana assembly elections
Speaking on his decision to join the Congress, Bajrang Punia said the party supported the wrestlers in tough times. He credited the Congress, AAP and other opposition parties for standing with him during his protest. Punia clarified that he is not contesting the Haryana assembly elections. He said only one wrestler Vinesh Phogat will contest the election. On whether she will be nominated to the Rajya Sabha, Punia said it is up to the party to decide. Phogat and Punia were part of the wrestlers’ protest against Singh in 2023 that led to a sexual harassment case against Brij.
