Congress leader Bajrang Punia has made a big claim regarding the protests at Jantar Mantar. Recently, while talking to a newspaper, he said that the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders had given him permission to protest there. He said that the BJP leaders were conspiring against his party. Recently, Punia and wrestler Vinesh Phogat have joined the Congress. Phogat is contesting from Julana seat.
Speaking to Tribune, Poonia denied that the protests at Jantar Mantar were a “Congress conspiracy”. “There are official records to prove my claims. Contrary to allegations that the Congress was behind the wrestlers’ protests, it was BJP leaders who were conspiring against their own party. Two of their leaders had got us permission to protest at that place,” he said.
Regarding former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, he said, ‘He is now irrelevant to us. Yes, whatever happened with the wrestlers at Jantar Mantar is a big election issue in the state and the country, because we have sisters and daughters in every house. BJP is suffering because of saving Sharan, but the public knows the truth. Vinesh has to win to draw everyone’s attention and to take the voice of injustice from the streets to the assembly.’
Why did both of them not contest the elections
Talking to the newspaper, Poonia said that both of them had already decided that only one of them would contest the elections. He said, ‘Among the two of us, Vinesh was the natural choice because we were moving forward on the issue of atrocities against girls, who are forced to bear everything silently.’ Congress has made Poonia the working president of the All India Kisan Congress. He says that he will fulfill the responsibility given to him by the party completely.