Babita Phogat Rebuts Cousin Vinesh's Criticism Amid Haryana Election Campaign

BJP leader Babita Phogat rebuffed her cousin Vinesh Phogat's criticisms of the BJP during the Haryana elections campaign. Babita described Vinesh's comments as narrow-minded, expressing confidence in BJP's victory. Vinesh, contesting from Julana, criticized BJP for failing to respect Haryana’s populace, vowing change with the Congress.

BJP leader Babita Phogat has hit back at her cousin Vinesh Phogat, who is running from the Julana assembly seat, after Vinesh criticized the BJP during her campaign for the upcoming Haryana elections. The wrestler-turned-politician had remarked, "This time Congress' symbol of hand will act as a slap. On October 5, this slap will strike in Delhi."

In response, Babita denounced Vinesh's comments as a sign of a "narrow mindset" and recommended her cousin reconsider her choice of words. As the assembly elections approach, Babita has been actively engaging with party workers, mentioning that senior BJP leaders are guiding them on public engagement and showcasing the BJP government's achievements. She expressed confidence that the BJP will secure victory in Haryana for the third consecutive time.

Babita also noted the importance of motivating party workers, stating, "The job of the party is to motivate the workers and instill enthusiasm in them. Respected Biplab Dev ji has today instilled enthusiasm in all of us by giving us the mantra of victory." She added, "We will go among the people with the mantra of victory given to us to form the Bharatiya Janata Party government for the third time." Regarding her cousin's statement, Babita commented, "Such statements are made with a very narrow mindset, but we should think about our words and reflect on them."

Vinesh Phogat, a wrestler-turned-politician, had previously lambasted the BJP government while campaigning for the Haryana Assembly elections. Running as a Congress candidate from the Julana constituency, Vinesh filed her nomination last week. She criticized the BJP for its perceived disrespect toward Haryana's people, vowing to address issues of unemployment and insult endured over the past decade. Vinesh, a key figure in protests against BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh last year, joined Congress on September 6. She faces BJP candidate Captain Yogesh Bairagi in Julana, with votes to be counted on October 8. In the 2019 elections, the BJP won 40 seats while Congress secured 30.

(With inputs from agencies.)