Bajrang Punia hits back at Brij Bhushan: Gloating over Vinesh ...

Reacting to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's statement that Vinesh Phogat deserved to be disqualified from the Paris Olympics, Bajrang Punia said the ex-WFI chief was gloating over the wrestler's loss, and that those celebrating her loss were not true patriots.

Bajrang Punia said Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's mentality is exposed by his comments on Vinesh Phogat.

Olympic medallist and newly inducted Congress member Bajrang Punia hit back at BJP leader and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh after the latter said wrestler Vinesh Phogat deserved to be disqualified from the Paris Olympics.

In an exclusive interview with India Today/Aaj Tak, Punia ripped into Singh over his latest comments. "This exposes the mentality of Brij Bhushan Singh towards the country. It was not Vinesh’s medal. It was 140 crore Indians’ medal. And he is gloating at her loss," Punia said.

The way Vinesh Phogat lost out on a medal at the Paris Olympics had been a matter of national grief, but the BJP’s IT Cell ran a campaign to mock and demean her, Punia alleged.

"Those who celebrated Vinesh’s disqualification, are they deshbhakts? We are fighting for the country since childhood, and they dare to teach us patriotism. They are molesting girls," he charged.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is accused of sexual harassment by several women wrestlers, had claimed that Phogat lost her chance at an Olympic medal because “God had punished her.”

In his first reaction after Phogat and Punia joined the Congress, Singh alleged that Phogat “cheated” by unfairly taking another wrestler's spot at the Olympics.

"She went to the Olympics by taking the spot of the girl who had defeated her in the trials, and by creating a commotion. Therefore, whatever happened to her was justified, and she deserved it," he stated.

Reacting sharply to Singh’s remarks, Punia said he had committed a crime by naming Phogat in the context of the sexual harassment case, and implying that she should have slapped him if he had molested her.

"We never told which wrestler was molested. He committed a crime by taking Vinesh’s name," Punia said, before adding, "Agar ladkiyon mei thappad maarne ki himmat uss waqt hoti, to aapko bahut saare thappad lagte (If the girls had the courage to slap you back then, you would have been slapped many times)."

Punia also accused the BJP of shielding Singh and using central agencies to target wrestlers who spoke out against the former WFI chief.

“Brij Bhushan Singh is a history sheeter, with charges from theft to sedition. The BJP is supporting him. I have no hopes from PM Modi now. Agencies were used against me; I was banned on dope charges. I have no expectations from the WFI President,” he said.

He explained his decision to join the Congress, saying the party supported the wrestlers during difficult times. He credited the Congress, AAP, and other opposition parties for standing with them during their protest.

Punia clarified that he was not contesting in the Haryana Assembly elections, stating that only one wrestler—Vinesh Phogat—would run. As for whether he would be nominated to the Rajya Sabha, Punia said it was up to the party to decide.

Phogat and Punia had been part of the wrestlers' protests against Singh in 2023, which led to his eventual trial for sexual harassment. Singh has denied the allegations and claimed that he was not present in Delhi on the day of the incident.