Haryana CM Questions Congress' Intentions as Olympian Wrestlers Join Party

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini scrutinizes Congress after Olympians Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia join ahead of state Assembly elections. He urges Congress to clarify their motives, especially in political engagements involving players, soldiers, and farmers. The wrestlers resigned from Northern Railways and received significant roles in Congress.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has questioned the Congress party's intentions after renowned wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined the party ahead of the state's Assembly elections. Speaking in Rohtak, the Chief Minister stated, 'Every person has their own opinion about which ideology they want to associate with. Congress should clarify its intention behind this.'

CM Saini highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always made decisions in the national interest. 'Congress has consistently opposed those decisions. Therefore, Congress needs to clarify their motives, especially since they engage in politics involving players, soldiers, and farmers,' he remarked to reporters in Rohtak.

Earlier in the day, wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat joined Congress in the presence of the party's senior leaders, including general secretary KC Venugopal and Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan. Following their induction, Congress appointed Punia as the working chairman of All India Kisan Congress and fielded Phogat as a candidate from the Julana Assembly constituency.

The wrestlers, who resigned from their positions in Northern Railways, joined Congress nearly a month before the Haryana Assembly polls. The elections for the 90-member assembly are set for October 5, with vote counting scheduled for October 8. Punia, who won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, and Phogat, the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final, bring significant recognition to the party. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)