Mr Punia mentioned the Congress backed the wrestlers throughout their protest with out even being requested.
New Delhi:
Shaking up the political panorama in Haryana weeks forward of the Meeting elections within the state, wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia have joined the Congress.
Each Olympians, who had been on the forefront of final 12 months’s protests towards the alleged sexual assault and intimidation by former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, had met senior Congress chief and Chief of the Opposition within the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday.
On Friday, Ms Phogat and Mr Punia, who’re each 30 years previous, met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence earlier than formally becoming a member of the celebration at its headquarters in New Delhi.
“Chak de India, Chak de Haryana! Met our proficient champions Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, who’ve made India proud on this planet, at 10, Rajaji Marg. We’re pleased with each of you,” Mr Kharge posted in Hindi on X.
चक दे इंडिया, चक दे हरियाणा!
दुनिया में भारत का नाम रौशन करने वाले हमारे प्रतिभाशाली चैंपियन विनेश फोगाट और बजरंग पुनिया से 10 राजाजी मार्ग पर मुलाक़ात।
हमें आप दोनों पर गर्व है। pic.twitter.com/aFRwfFeeo1
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) September 6, 2024
Talking on the occasion on the Congress workplace, Ms Phogat mentioned it’s only when instances are dangerous that folks know who is de facto standing with them.
“I wish to thank the individuals of the nation for supporting me throughout my wrestling profession and I hope I dwell as much as their expectations. I wish to thank the Congress as a result of, as they are saying, it’s only when instances are dangerous that one finds out who’s standing with them. After we had been dragged on the roads, each celebration aside from the BJP stood with us and understood our ache and our tears,” she mentioned in Hindi.
“I’m very proud to be related to a celebration that stands up towards misbehaviour and injustice towards girls… I wish to guarantee the individuals of the nation that we’ll work for them with the identical depth with which we labored in wrestling. We stand with each girl who finds herself helpless. If I needed, I might have left wrestling at Jantar Mantar (in the course of the protests) however I reached the finals of the Olympics… however God had different plans. He has now given me an opportunity to serve the individuals of my nation,” she added.
Mr Punia mentioned the Congress backed the wrestlers throughout their protest with out even being requested to whereas BJP MPs ignored letters in search of their help.
“We’re paying the value for elevating our voice in help of the daughters of the nation… We are going to maintain working for the individuals of the nation and strengthen the Congress celebration in addition to India. Everybody was completely happy when Vinesh Phogat reached the finals however some individuals additionally celebrated when she was disqualified,” he mentioned.
Whereas no official announcement has been made but, Ms Phogat is predicted to contest from the Julana constituency, held by the Jannayak Janta Celebration, within the Haryana Meeting polls whereas Mr Punia is prone to be fielded from the Badli seat.
Resignation From Railways
Hours earlier than becoming a member of the Congress, Ms Phogat resigned as an officer on particular obligation (OSD) with the Northern Railways, citing private causes.
Posting a photograph of her resignation letter, the wrestler wrote on X: “Serving Indian Railways has been a memorable and proud time of my life. At this level in my life, I’ve determined to separate myself from my service within the railways and have submitted my resignation to the competent authorities of the Indian Railways. I’ll at all times be grateful to the Indian Railway household for this chance given to me by the Railways within the service of the nation.
Ms Phogat’s recognition has obtained a lift just lately after she missed out on what would have been at the very least a silver medal after being disqualified for exceeding the burden restrict by 100 grams forward of the ultimate bout within the 50 kg freestyle wrestling occasion. The grit proven by the wrestler in defeating reigning gold medallist Yui Susaki of Japan and occurring to enter the ultimate had earned her plaudits whereas her eventual disqualification had damaged a billion hearts.
Farmers’ Help
Ms Phogat introduced her retirement from wrestling after the disqualification and all eyes had been on her subsequent steps. Final week, she reached the Haryana-Punjab Shambhu border, prolonged her help to farmers staging a protest for a authorized assure for minimal help value (MSP) for crops and mentioned she stood with them as their daughter.
“Your agitation completes 200 days in the present day. I pray to God that you simply get what you’ve gotten come right here for – your proper, for justice…Your daughter stands with you. I additionally urge the federal government… we too are residents of this nation, if we increase our voices it isn’t political each time…It is best to hear them…What they’re demanding isn’t illegal,” she had mentioned.
Increase To Congress
The entry of the wrestlers into the Congress is predicted to present it a lift as Ms Phogat is seen to get pleasure from help amongst farmers, who make up a big voting bloc in Haryana. The Congress is hoping that the farmers’ anger towards the BJP will assist it dislodge the celebration from a state it has dominated since 2014.
The Congress can even hope that Mr Punia and Ms Phogat becoming a member of the celebration will give it an higher hand in its negotiations with INDIA ally AAP in seat-sharing for the 90 constituencies within the state. Whereas an in-principle settlement relating to an alliance had been introduced on Wednesday, there seems to be a stalemate between the 2 events with the AAP in search of 10 seats and the Congress prepared to surrender solely 5 to seven.
Upbeat after profitable 5 out of the ten Lok Sabha seats in Haryana this 12 months after the BJP’s clear sweep in 2019, the state unit of the Congress was reluctant to half with any Meeting constituencies however the push for a tie-up has reportedly come from Rahul Gandhi, who has maintained that it’s going to guarantee there isn’t a division of votes and provides the celebration its absolute best likelihood to defeat the BJP.
Variations inside the Congress have reportedly delayed its first record of candidates and the BJP has been going through pushback and a riot because it did so on Wednesday, with Vitality Minister Ranjit Chautala and MLA Lakshman Napa quitting the celebration after being denied tickets. Mr Chautala has mentioned he’ll contest as an Unbiased and Mr Napa has introduced that he can be becoming a member of the Congress.
Mr Chautala is the son of Chaudhary Devi Lal Chaudhary, certainly one of Haryana’s tallest leaders, who served as chief minister twice and was additionally a deputy prime minister.