New Delhi : Two prominent and popular Olympian wrestlers, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, today joined the Indian National Congress. They were inducted into the party by the general secretary in charge of organization KC Venugopal in presence of several other senior leaders.

Welcoming them into Congress, Venugopal said, it was a moment of great pride for INC that the two great Olympian wrestlers and medallists had joined the party.

He said, the two Olympians had not only made their mark in the field of sports, but had also participated in social causes like fight against sexual harassment, protest against three farm laws and fight against the Agnipath scheme.

Venugopal said they had chosen the Congress party as it stood by them in their fight for justice. “Indian National Congress is proud to accept them into the party”, he said.

The Congress general secretary criticised the Railways Department for issuing show cause notices to Phogat and Punia over their meeting with Rahul Gandhi. He asked whether it was a crime to meet the Leader of the Opposition. He asked the Railways Department that they must relieve the two players without creating any difficulties.

Speaking on the occasion, Vinesh Phogat said she was thankful to the Congress Party for providing her the chance to serve the nation. She promised that just like she remained committed and dedicated towards wrestling, she will continue to dedicate herself to serve the nation.

She said the Congress Party, unlike the BJP, had supported them during their fight for justice. She promised that she will ensure that no athlete meets the same fate as they met, adding that many athletes do not reveal everything that happens to them.

Replying to a question about the allegations of conspiracies which led to her disqualification, she said, she did not want to go back to the emotional trauma again at this stage and would speak about it at the right time.

Bajrang Punia said, he was thankful to the entire Congress leadership for providing him the chance to serve the people. He said, like he worked in the field of sports and stood for farmers’ interests and scrapping of the Agnipath scheme, he will continue to work for the nation.

In an oblique dig at the BJP’s IT cell, he said, some people in “the IT cell celebrated Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification”.

Among those present on the occasion were AICC General Secretary in-charge for Haryana, Dipak Babaria; Chairman of the AICC Media and Publicity Department Pawan Khera and PCC president Udai Bhan.