Gurugram: The BJP has asked former party MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to avoid making statements against Olympic wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, media reports said.
This advice from the party leadership came shortly after the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief criticized the wrestlers for joining the Congress ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections.
Singh had told the media that while Vinesh and Bajrang gained fame through wrestling, their reputations would be tarnished after aligning with Congress.
Phogat and Punia were among the wrestlers who organized a sit-in protest against Singh last year, accusing him of harassing several young female wrestlers.
Brij Bhushan Singh also stated that Vinesh and Bajrang are misguided if they believe they will be successful in the upcoming assembly elections.
They can contest any Assembly seat in Haryana, a small BJP candidate will defeat them, he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Notably, the following day, the Congress nominated Vinesh Phogat as their candidate for the Julana Assembly segment in Haryana.
Meanwhile, Bajrang Punia was appointed as the chief of the All India Kisan Congress and will actively participate in the election campaign.
On September 6, both Phogat and Punia, who led last years wrestlers protest against Singh, joined the Congress, vowing to neither be afraid nor back down.
