Congress Leader Pawan Khera Criticizes BJP Over Wrestlers’ Protest Allegations

New Delhi [India], September 7: Congress leader Pawan Khera criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday, claiming that the BJP supports those who do wrong, while Congress stands up for the wronged. This statement came after former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh alleged that the wrestlers’ protest was politically motivated by Congress.

Speaking about the issue, Khera said, “Whoever does wrong, the BJP stands with them and they are with the BJP. Whoever is wronged, Congress fights for them and raises their voice and will raise it in the future too and that is why they also like Congress.”

Khera highlighted that six players had filed an FIR against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and questioned the sections he was accused of. He expressed pride in Congress’s support for the wrestlers, stating, “We are proud that we stood, are standing and will stand with our daughters.”

Regarding Brij Bhushan’s statement that Congress would regret the joining of wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, Khera defended the party’s actions. He said, “We will never regret that we stood with our daughters; they should regret it… What has the Hooda family done wrong by raising their voice? This is what needs to be done. What is the point of politics if we don’t stand by them?”

Earlier, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh claimed that the wrestlers’ protest, which began at Jantar Mantar in January 2023, was a conspiracy led by Congress members Bhupinder Hooda, Deepender Hooda, Priyanka Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi. He stated, “On 18th January 2023, when the protest started at Jantar Mantar, I said that this is not a movement of sportspersons; Congress is behind it. Especially Bhupinder Hooda, Deepender Hooda, Priyanka Ji, and Rahul Ji. This is a movement of Congress. And today this thing has been proved.”

Singh further alleged that the protest was not for the dignity of women and that it caused embarrassment to the ‘daughters’ of Haryana.

On Friday, wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined Congress, just a month before the Haryana assembly polls. Vinesh Phogat was fielded in the Julana constituency, while Bajrang Punia was appointed working president of the All India Kisan Congress.