'It began 2 years ago...': Brij Bhushan reacts as Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia join Congress
PTC News Desk: A day after wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined the Congress ahead of the Haryana assembly elections, Brij Bhushan claimed that "the move began two years ago," referring to the wrestlers' protest against him. He added that the entire wrestlers' protest was a "conspiracy" against him, orchestrated by the Congress party.
Brij Bhushan said on Saturday that when the wrestlers' protest began at Jantar Mantar in January last year, he claimed that it was not a sports movement and that it was being led by Bhupinder Hooda of the Congress.
"When the protest began at Jantar Mantar on January 18, 2023, I stated that it was not a sports protest, but rather one supported by the Congress. Especially Bhupinder Hooda, Deepender Hooda, Priyanka Ji, and Rahul Ji. This is a movement of Congress. And today this has been proven. Congress was involved in the entire conspiracy against us, and Bhupinder Hooda led it," he said.
Singh also claimed that the wrestlers' protests were not for women's dignity and that as a result of the protests, Haryana's 'daughters' are facing embarrassment.
"I want to tell the people of Haryana that Bhupinder Hooda, Deepender Hooda, Bajrang, and Vinesh did not sit in protest for the dignity of girls. They are causing embarrassment for Haryana's daughters. We are not responsible for it; Bhupinder Hooda and Deependra Hooda, as well as the protesters, are," said the former WFI chief.
"What will they say when it is proven that I was not present in Delhi on the day of the incident for which allegations are made? They used daughters for politics and defamed them, particularly women athletes. They were not fighting for the honour of daughters; they were fighting for politics," he said.
The BJP leader reiterated that he is not guilty of disrespecting women and accused Bhupinder Hooda of doing so. "I am not guilty of disrespecting daughters. If anyone has disrespected daughters, it is Bajrang and Vinesh. Bhupinder Hooda, who wrote the script, is to blame for this."
"One day, Congress will have to regret it," he continued.
Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, two ace wrestlers, joined the Congress on Friday, nearly a month before the Haryana assembly elections. Within hours of joining the party, wrestler Vinesh Phogat was given a ticket from the Julana constituency for the upcoming Haryana elections. Meanwhile, Bajrang Punia was appointed working president of the All India Kisan Congress.
- With inputs from agencies
