Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Bhushan Singh, who faced sexual harassment allegations from wrestlers, has publicly accused Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat of cheating to qualify for the Olympic Games. Singh, the ex-president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), suggested that Phogat’s lack of a medal was divine retribution. “Phogat did not win through legitimate trials; her participation was marred by discrepancies. It’s a punishment from God,” Singh stated during a press interaction.
Singh also raised questions about the validity of the trials for another wrestler, Bajrang Punia, at the Asian Games, suggesting procedural irregularities. “Haryana prides itself as a sports hub, yet wrestling activities were halted for over two years. Did Punia participate in the Asian Games without completing the necessary trials?” Singh queried, expressing his concerns about the oversight in sports governance.
The political landscape shifted as Phogat and Punia joined the Congress party, with Punia assuming a role as the working chairman of the All India Kisan Congress and Phogat being positioned for upcoming polls. Their entry into politics follows a year of intense protest against Singh and the administration he led at the WFI.
Defending his tenure and refuting claims of disrespect towards female athletes, Singh countered, “The allegations of disrespect are misdirected. The real disrespect comes from the orchestrators of these claims.” He implicated former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda in scripting the wrestlers’ protest.
Singh declared his readiness to support the BJP’s campaign in Haryana, confident of the party’s victory against Phogat. Meanwhile, Phogat criticized the BJP’s handling of their grievances, “While the BJP ignored our plight, the Congress provided support when we were subjected to indignities in Delhi.”
Punia supported Phogat’s statements, highlighting the lack of support from women MPs within the BJP and the consequent political repercussions for their advocacy for women’s rights. “Our calls for support were ignored, revealing the BJP’s stance on issues of women’s safety at critical venues like Jantar Mantar,” he stated.
This development comes amidst allegations from BJP leaders that the protests led by the wrestlers were politically motivated, orchestrated by the Congress to tarnish the BJP’s image.
