Union minister and former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday reacted to wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia’s meeting with Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and said that the meeting proved that the last year’s wrestlers’ protest was “politically motivated”.
“I think our athletes got trapped in a political maze during the protests. What started back then is reaching its climax now. These people (wrestlers) are urging a ticket from the Congress. It means that the entire protest was politically motivated…” news agency ANI quoted Khattar as saying.
#WATCH | Haryana polls | Union Minister ML Khattar says, “I think our athletes got trapped in a political maze at that time (wrestlers’ protest). It is reaching its climax today, the same people are urging Congress for a ticket. It means that the entire matter was political…” pic.twitter.com/6y0rJgDSYq— ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2024
The BJP leader’s remark came hours after the wrestlers met the Congress leader amid the speculations that the wrestlers could join the grand old party and contest the upcoming Haryana assembly elections.
The speculations rose after Congress shared the photograph of Gandhi with Phogat and Punia on its official X handle. In the picture, Gandhi stands with his arm around Punia’s shoulder while holding Phogat’s hand.
नेता विपक्ष श्री @RahulGandhi से विनेश फोगाट जी और बजरंग पुनिया जी ने मुलाकात की। pic.twitter.com/UK7HW6kLEL— Congress (@INCIndia) September 4, 2024
Sources in Congress said the party has offered ticket to Vinesh and told Punia that he would be accommodated in the government if it comes to power.
Punia and Phogat were part of the months-long protest over sexual harassment allegations against former BJP MP and then Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in 2023.
Responding to the speculations, All India Congress Committee (AICC) in charge of Haryana Deepak Babaria on Tuesday said that no discussion on either Vinesh or Bajrang’s candidature was done in the meeting.
“Vinesh Phogat’s or Bajrang Punia’s names are not among them. I think, there will be clarity over this by the day after tomorrow,” said Babaria when asked if the names of Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia are among the 32 candidates that have been finalised earlier.
Voting for the 90-member Assembly in Haryana will be held on October 5 and counting of votes would be done on October 8.
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