Vinesh Phogat resigns from Indian Railways, amid rumours of joining politics

Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia met Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday. X/@INCIndia

Retired wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Friday (6 September) resigned from the Indian Railways citing personal reasons amid speculation that she may perhaps be joining the Congress celebration.

“Serving Indian Railways has been a memorable and proud time of my life,” she said in her resignation letter, as posted on X.

“It be miles requested that I, Vinesh, w/o Sh. Somvir Rathi at present is working as OSD/Sports Northern - Railway in Level - 7,” Vinesh wrote in her resignation letter addressed to the overall manager Northern Railways.

भारतीय रेलवे की सेवा मेरे जीवन का एक यादगार और गौरवपूर्ण समय रहा है।

जीवन के इस मोड़ पर मैंने स्वयं को रेलवे सेवा से पृथक करने का निर्णय लेते हुए अपना त्यागपत्र भारतीय रेलवे के सक्षम अधिकारियों को सौप दिया है। राष्ट्र की सेवा में रेलवे द्वारा मुझे दिये गये इस अवसर के लिए मैं… percenttwitter.com/HasXLH5vBP

— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) September 6, 2024

“Sir, keeping in view of my family circumstances/personal reasons, I'm unable to perform my duties as OSD/sports. Therefore without any pressure, I tender my resignation,” she said.

Vinesh requested for her resignation to be accepted with immediate effect.

“It be miles kindly requested that my resignation with immediate effect can be accepted from Northern Railway. One month salary can be deposited in lieu of my one month notice period,” she added.

She changed into employed as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) with Northern Railways.

“At this point in my life, I've got made up our minds to separate myself from the railway service and have submitted my resignation to the competent authorities of the Indian Railways,” said the wrestler who met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi this week, leading to widespread speculation of her joining the celebration and contesting the Haryana assembly elections next month.

“I may always be grateful to the Indian Railway family for this chance given to me by the Railways in the service of the nation,” she added.

On Friday, Phogat, and fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia, met Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge and general secretary KC Venugopal in Delhi.

Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia meet Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, in Delhi. Celebration's general secretary KC Venugopal also present.

(P.c.: Congress) percenttwitter.com/uLwZLa0ftk

— ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2024

The 30-year-old had retired from wrestling following her disqualification from the 50kg gold medal match at the Paris Olympics for being overweight by 100 grammes earlier than the final word.

She had appealed against the choice but that changed into struck down by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. In her resignation letter, Vinesh cited personal reasons for resigning.