‘Rahul Gandhi respected sportspersons of country’: Randeep Surjewala on Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia’s Congress entry | India News
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala on Sunday praised leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi for his support of sportspersons, specifically citing the respect shown towards Phogat by giving her a party ticket.
Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia recently joined Congress on Friday, marking a significant move just one month before the Haryana Assembly elections.
“Vinesh Phogat has been given a ticket from Congress.Rahul Gandhi has respected the sportspersons of the country and has become a partner in the fight for justice,” Surjewala said on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Phogat kicked off her election campaign in the Jind region of Haryana on Sunday.
Shortly after Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined Congress, Phogat was named the party’s candidate for the Julana Assembly constituency, while Punia was appointed as the working president of the All India Kisan Congress. Earlier in the day, both wrestlers had resigned from their positions in Northern Railways.
A notable athlete, Punia earned a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, while Phogat became the first woman wrestler to reach the Olympics final in Paris last month.
On Saturday, Vinesh Phogat met former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, expressing that her new journey is more than politics; it is a fight for service and justice on a new platform.
Vinesh Phogat shared her thoughts after meeting Bhupinder Hooda and other Congress leaders, recounting her experiences during the protest against ex-MP and former Wresting Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over a sexual harassment case.
“Yesterday I was happy to meet former chief minister of Haryana Bhupinder Hooda ji and Lok Sabha MP and my elder brother Deepender Hooda ji at his residence in Delhi. Hooda Sahab’s sports policy has made Haryana a leader in sports. During his tenure, players got jobs like DSP and cash awards, which attracted the youth towards sports and inspired them to win medals at the international level,” Vinesh posted on X.
Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia recently joined Congress on Friday, marking a significant move just one month before the Haryana Assembly elections.
“Vinesh Phogat has been given a ticket from Congress.Rahul Gandhi has respected the sportspersons of the country and has become a partner in the fight for justice,” Surjewala said on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Phogat kicked off her election campaign in the Jind region of Haryana on Sunday.
Shortly after Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined Congress, Phogat was named the party’s candidate for the Julana Assembly constituency, while Punia was appointed as the working president of the All India Kisan Congress. Earlier in the day, both wrestlers had resigned from their positions in Northern Railways.
A notable athlete, Punia earned a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, while Phogat became the first woman wrestler to reach the Olympics final in Paris last month.
On Saturday, Vinesh Phogat met former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, expressing that her new journey is more than politics; it is a fight for service and justice on a new platform.
Vinesh Phogat shared her thoughts after meeting Bhupinder Hooda and other Congress leaders, recounting her experiences during the protest against ex-MP and former Wresting Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over a sexual harassment case.
“Yesterday I was happy to meet former chief minister of Haryana Bhupinder Hooda ji and Lok Sabha MP and my elder brother Deepender Hooda ji at his residence in Delhi. Hooda Sahab’s sports policy has made Haryana a leader in sports. During his tenure, players got jobs like DSP and cash awards, which attracted the youth towards sports and inspired them to win medals at the international level,” Vinesh posted on X.
“Even today I cannot forget the day when we were dragged on the streets of Delhi. In that difficult time, our elder brother Deepender Hooda ji not only stood with us and gave us courage, but also raised his voice strongly against the injustice being done to the daughters of the country. This new journey is not just politics for me, but a fight for service and justice on a new platform,” she added.
The election for Haryana’s 90-member legislative assembly is scheduled for October 5, with the last date for filing nominations set for September 12.
The counting of votes will take place on October 8.
