Wrestlers’ Protest Was ‘Politically Motivated’: Khattar’s BIG Claim After Punia, Phogat Meet Rahul

Haryana Assembly Elections 2024: Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Wednesday claimed that last year’s wrestlers’ protest became “politically motivated”, hours after superstar wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia met Rahul Gandhi amid speculations that the duo are at risk of contest the upcoming Haryana Assembly polls on a Congress ticket.

“I suspect our athletes got trapped in a political maze sooner or later of the protests. What started back then is reaching its climax now. The wrestlers’ protests were politically motivated,” the previous Haryana chief minister told news agency ANI.

Khattar also claimed that there'll be “nexus” between the Congress and those that organised the wrestlers’ protest.

#WATCH | Haryana polls | Union Minister ML Khattar says, “I suspect our athletes got trapped in a political maze at that point (wrestlers’ protest). It truly is miles reaching its climax in the meanwhile, the same people are urging Congress for a ticket. It implies that the total matter became political…” p.c.twitter.com/6y0rJgDSYq

— ANI (@ANI) September four, 2024

“These people (wrestlers) are attempting to search out a ticket from the Congress. This suggests that that there'll be a nexus. If it wasn’t clear then, it be far absolutely clear now,” the BJP MP said.

Punia, Phogat meet Rahul

Earlier in the day, Olympians Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat met former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi with reports citing sources claiming that the superstar wrestlers are at risk of contest the upcoming Haryana assembly polls on the birthday party’s ticket.

A PTI report citing sources, said deliberations are underway finalise the seats for the 2 wrestlers with Julana and Badli seats into account for Phogat and Punia respectively.

The Congress put out a photograph of Gandhi with Phogat and Punia on its official X cope with.

Punia, Phogat to contest Haryana polls?

Asked whether Phogat and Punia may contest on a Congress ticket, AICC general secretary in-charge of Haryana Deepak Babaria said there'll be a possibility and it'd changed into clear by Thursday or Friday.

Punia is a Tokyo Games bronze medallist, while Phogat became the first woman wrestler to achieve the Olympics final, the stage where she became disqualified after being found over weight by about 100 gm in her 50-kg category weigh-in. She consequently announced her retirement from the sport.

The Congress’ Central Election Committee (CEC) has cleared the names of candidates for sixty six seats out of 90 till Tuesday.

Punia and Phogat were element of the protest over sexual harassment allegations against former BJP MP and then Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in 2023.

The Congress and AAP are engaged in seat-sharing talks for the Haryana Assembly polls with hard bargaining from all sides.

Vote casting on 90 assembly seats in Haryana will likely be held on October 5 and counting of votes will likely be undertaken on October 8.

(With inputs from agencies)