BJP issues 'gag order' on Brij Bhushan after his comments on Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia joining Congress
PTC News Desk: The BJP has reportedly asked former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to refrain from making derogatory comments against wrestlers.
The former BJP MP was accused of sexual harassment by several of the country's finest athletes, including Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik.
Singh has claimed that the allegations made against him were part of a plot orchestrated by the Congress, citing Phogat and wrestler Bajrang Punia's decision to join the party ahead of the Haryana assembly election.
"They (Punia and Phogat) were the faces...They were used as pawns by Bhupinder Hooda, the Congress, and the Congress family," Singh said, adding "This was all planned to gain control of the Wrestling Federation of India and undermine the BJP and its ideology...Rahul Gandhi's team, the Congress, continues to do these things," he stated.
Singh took control of the WFI in 2012, following a fierce turf fight with Hooda.
Following Singh's fresh remarks, the BJP asked that he refrain from making any further remarks on the wrestlers, according to sources.
Haryana contributes a considerable number of athletes to national teams. Athletes in the state are known to have big loyal followings, which may have encouraged the BJP to advise its former MP to remain quiet.
According to sources, the BJP does not want any new narrative to emerge from the wrestlers' protest, which drew widespread support in Haryana.
- With inputs from agencies
