'Ghar Wapsi For Me': Boxer Vijender Singh Joins BJP Day After Reposting Rahul Gandhi's Tweet Criticising BJP Govt

Just a day before joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi on Wednesday, India’s first Olympic medallist in boxing, Vijender Singh, had reposted a tweet of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticising the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre.

However, the star boxer deleted the post later.

Vijender, who took a plunge in politics in April 2019 by joining the Congress, switched to the BJP in an unprecedented move ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Addressing a joint press conference with BJP leaders at the party headquarters, Vijender praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that the respect for Indian sportspersons has increased in the country and abroad since the BJP came to power at the Centre “I am the same old Vijender. Whatever I would feel wrong, I would call it wrong. I will call it right if I feel it is right,” said Singh who had been a vocal critic of the BJP and had come out in support of farmers’ protests and wrestlers’ stir, often expressing his views on social media.

A number of leaders have switched their parties ahead of Lok Sabha elections though Vijender’s entry into the BJP is among those that may have surprised many.

Vijender Singh joined the BJP in the presence of party national general secretary Vinod Tawde and other senior leaders of the party at its headquarters here.

“I am joining the BJP today under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and party president JP Nadda. In a way it is my ‘ghar wapasi’ (homecoming),” he said, adding “There is a saying in English- ‘Good to be back’. I am feeling very good”.

Vijender fought the 2019 Lok Sabha election unsuccessfully from the South Delhi constituency on a Congress ticket. His name was doing the rounds for the last few days as the party’s nominee from Mathura, from where actor and incumbent MP Hema Malini has been fielded again by the BJP.

He comes from the Jat community, which has political influence in a large number of seats in Haryana, his home state, western Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

“When we travelled abroad to fight (participate in matches) in the UK, Dubai, Ireland and other places, many times there used to be so many things at the airport. Since the BJP came at the helm under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it has become easier for us to go anywhere,” the boxing champion said.

The 38-year-old trailblazing boxer had delivered India’s first Olympic and men’s world championship medals back in 2008 and 2009 and joined professional boxing in 2015.

He said he would work for the welfare of the people.

(With PTI inputs)