BJP Leader Anil Vij Dismisses Wrestlers Joining Congress

BJP leader Anil Vij downplayed the significance of wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joining the Congress party. He stated that anyone can join any party and that the BJP has no say in it. The wrestlers joined Congress citing support during protests against sexual harassment allegations.

In a measured response, BJP leader and Ambala assembly constituency candidate Anil Vij minimized the impact of wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joining the Congress party. 'Anyone can join any party,' Vij told reporters in Haryana's Ambala on Friday.

The inclusion of Phogat and Punia in the Congress fold was marked by their presence alongside notable figures such as Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal, leader Pawan Khera, Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan, and AICC in-charge of Haryana, Deepak Babaria. Phogat expressed gratitude towards Congress, stating the party 'understood their pain and tears' faced during police actions at Delhi's Jantar Mantar last year. She emphasized that all parties, except for the BJP, had supported them.

Both Phogat and Punia were pivotal in the protests against sexual harassment allegations levied at former BJP MP and ex-Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh last year. This political move comes just before the Haryana Assembly elections scheduled on October 5, with results to be counted on October 8.

(With inputs from agencies.)