Vinesh Phogat resigns from Indian Railways, joins Congress alongside Bajrang Punia

Ending days of speculation, wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined the Congress on Friday before the Haryana Assembly polls.

Phogat and Punia met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in the national capital on Friday. They later joined the Congress party at the AICC headquarters in the presence of general secretary in-charge organisation KC Venugopal, AICC general secretary in-charge Haryana Deepak Babaria, Haryana Congress chief Uday Bhan and the Congress’ media and publicity department head Pawan Khera.

At the press conference during which they joined the party, Venugopal claimed that Phogat had been issued a show cause notice by the Railways after she met Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday. Party sources said the notice talked about violating service rules by meeting political leaders.

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Venugopal asked if it was a crime to meet the leader of the opposition and urged the Railway authorities to relieve Phogat and not “play politics”.

On whether Phogat and Punia would contest the assembly polls, he said the party’s Central Election Committee would make a decision on that.

After joining the party, Phogat said the BJP was supporting Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh while the Congress supported the protesting wrestlers when they “were being dragged on the roads” in Delhi.

Punia and Phogat were part of the protest over sexual harassment allegations against former BJP MP and then Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in 2023.

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“I thank the people of the country and the media, you supported me throughout my wrestling journey. I thank the Congress party. Tough times tell you about who is with you. When we were dragged on the roads, all parties except the BJP stood with us,” she said at the press conference.

“I am starting a new innings. I want sportspersons don’t have to face what we had to go through,” Phogat said.

“We will not be scared and won’t back off. Our court case is going on, we will win that also,” she said.

Venugopal said it was a “big day” for the Congress and a proud moment “for all of us” to welcome Phogat and Punia into the party fold.

The entire country stood with them when they protested, he said, citing the support extended by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Congress leaders.

“They (Phogat and Punia) not only stood for themselves but fought for farmers and stood with them,” Venugopal said.

“Some people are criticising their joining the Congress. So many athletes and Olympians are in different parties, is that also a conspiracy?” Venugopal asked.

Both Phogat and Punia or at least one of them are set to contest the assembly polls on a Congress ticket, the sources said.

Earlier in the day, Phogat resigned from the Indian Railways citing personal reasons.

“Serving Indian Railways has been a memorable and proud time of my life,” she said in her resignation letter, as posted on X.

“It is requested that I, Vinesh, w/o Sh. Somvir Rathi at present is working as OSD/Sports Northern - Railway in Level - 7,” Vinesh wrote in her resignation letter addressed to the general manager Northern Railways.

भारतीय रेलवे की सेवा मेरे जीवन का एक यादगार और गौरवपूर्ण समय रहा है।

जीवन के इस मोड़ पर मैंने स्वयं को रेलवे सेवा से पृथक करने का निर्णय लेते हुए अपना त्यागपत्र भारतीय रेलवे के सक्षम अधिकारियों को सौप दिया है। राष्ट्र की सेवा में रेलवे द्वारा मुझे दिये गये इस अवसर के लिए मैं… pic.twitter.com/HasXLH5vBP

— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) September 6, 2024

“Sir, keeping in view of my family circumstances/personal reasons, I am unable to perform my duties as OSD/sports. Therefore without any pressure, I wish to tender my resignation,” she said.

Vinesh requested for her resignation to be accepted with immediate effect.

“It is kindly requested that my resignation with immediate effect may be accepted from Northern Railway. One month salary will be deposited in lieu of my one month notice period,” she added.

She was employed as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) with Northern Railways.

“At this point in my life, I have decided to separate myself from the railway service and have submitted my resignation to the competent authorities of the Indian Railways,” said the wrestler who met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi this week, leading to widespread speculation of her joining the party and contesting the Haryana assembly elections next month.

“I will always be grateful to the Indian Railway family for this opportunity given to me by the Railways in the service of the nation,” she added.

The 30-year-old had retired from wrestling following her disqualification from the 50kg gold medal match at the Paris Olympics for being overweight by 100 grammes ahead of the final.

She had appealed against the decision but that was struck down by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. In her resignation letter, Vinesh cited personal reasons for resigning.