In a significant development ahead of the Haryana assembly elections, Olympic wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia officially joined the Congress party on Friday. This came shortly after Phogat resigned from her position with Indian Railways, citing personal reasons.
The two wrestlers met with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, before announcing their decision. Speaking after joining, Vinesh Phogat expressed her pride in aligning with a party committed to fighting for women’s rights. She thanked the Congress for its support during their protests last year against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations.
“I am proud to join a party that is ready to fight for women, from the streets to Parliament,” Phogat said, adding that the Congress stood by them when other parties, including the BJP, did not.
Bajrang Punia echoed her sentiments, emphasizing his desire to strengthen the Congress and accusing the BJP of siding with those committing atrocities against women. Both wrestlers had played a key role in protests last year and are now pledging their efforts towards political change.
Phogat, the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the Olympics final, announced her retirement from the sport after her disqualification from the Tokyo Games. Punia, a bronze medalist at the Tokyo Games, has also voiced his commitment to political activism.
