Punjab Newsline, New Delhi, September 6-
Haryana weeks ahead of the Assembly elections in the state, wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia have joined the Congress.
Both Olympians, who had been at the forefront of last year's protests against the alleged sexual assault and intimidation by former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, had met senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the LS Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday.
Speaking at the event at the Congress office, Phogat said it is only when times are bad that people know who is really standing with them. "I want to thank the people of the country for supporting me during my wrestling career and I hope I live up to their expectations. I want to thank the Congress because, as they say, it is only when times are bad that one finds out who is standing with them. When we were dragged on the roads, every party other than the BJP stood with us and understood our pain and our tears," she said in Hindi.
Punia said the Congress backed the wrestlers during their protest without even being asked to while BJP MPs ignored letters seeking their support.