Congress leader Kuldeep Vats slams Brij Bhushan's claims, accuses BJP of disrespecting jawans, farmers

New Delhi: Following the statement made by former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Congress regretting the joining of wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia to the party, Congress leader Kuldeep Vats said that Singh was saying all this riding on the arrogance that he has in him.
Speaking to ANI on Saturday, Vats alleged that the slogan "Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao" by the BJP was "just a lie for them" and that they have "disrespected the jawans and farmers" by introducing Agniveer for the jawans and by making farmers sit for one and a quarter year at the Delhi border.
"The arrogance that he has with him (Brij Bhushan)--he is saying all these ridings on the arrogance that he has in him," he said.
"I want to tell the people of the BJP that they had a slogan, "Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao." It is just a lie for them... The people in BJP used to talk about "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan,"... They disrespected the Jawan by introducing Agniveer... The farmer had to sit at the border for one and a quarter year. They were pelted with rubber bullets, tear gas was thrown at them, and water cannons were used. That time also Modi Ji asked for forgiveness. Coming to our wrestlers and daughters, when they got some medals for the nation, then every BJP leader and PM Modi congratulated them. But when they raised their voice against atrocities, it was our duty to stand with our sisters and daughters. Congress stands with everyone," he added.
Earlier today, former WFI president and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said the joining of Phogat and Punia to the Congress party proves that the entire wrestlers' movement was a "conspiracy" against him and the Congress party was behind it.
Brij Bhushan further stated that the Congress would regret their decision and claimed that the wrestler's protest that started in Jantar Mantar in January last year, was not a movement of sportspersons and Congress was behind it which was led by Bhupinder Hooda.
"On 18th January 2023, when the protest started at Jantar Mantar, I said that this is not a movement of sportspersons; Congress is behind it. Especially Bhupinder Hooda, Deepender Hooda, Priyanka Ji, and Rahul Ji. This is a movement of Congress. And today this thing has been proved. In this entire movement, the conspiracy that happened against us, Congress was involved in it and Bhupinder Hooda was leading it," he said.
"One-day Congress will have to regret it," he further added.
Singh further alleged that the wrestler's protest was not for the dignity of women, adding that because of the protests, the 'daughters' of Haryana are facing embarrassment.
Earlier on Friday, the two ace wrestlers, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, joined the Congress almost a month before the Haryana assembly polls.
Punia won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, while Vinesh Phogat became the first woman wrestler to reach the Olympics final in Paris last month. The wrestlers resigned from their respective positions in Northern Railways earlier on that day. Within hours of them joining the party, wrestler Vinesh Phogat was fielded in the Julana constituency for the upcoming Haryana polls. Whereas, Bajrang Punia was appointed working president of the All India Kisan Congress.