BJP leader and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president, Brij Bhushan Singh, has made serious allegations against Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat, accusing her of cheating to secure her place in the Olympic Games. Singh claims that Phogat’s failure to win a medal was divine retribution for her alleged misconduct.
In a recent statement, Singh questioned Phogat’s participation in trials, suggesting that she improperly competed in two weight categories on the same day and took an unusually long break after the weigh-in. “God has punished you for it,” Singh remarked, asserting that her loss was a consequence of this alleged dishonesty.
Singh also directed criticism at Bajrang Punia, accusing him of participating in the Asian Games without completing the necessary trials. He claimed that wrestling activities in Haryana, a key state in Indian sports, had been stalled for over two years due to such irregularities.
The allegations come just days after Phogat and Punia joined the Congress party, marking their entry into politics. Both wrestlers had led protests against Singh last year, accusing him of sexual harassment. In response to their political shift, Singh stated that any BJP candidate would easily defeat Phogat in Haryana, and he reaffirmed his willingness to campaign for the BJP if requested.
The wrestlers have countered Singh’s claims, asserting that the BJP failed to support them during their protests, while the Congress stood by their side.
