Congress Claims Railways Sent Show-Cause Notice To Vinesh Phogat After Her Meeting With Rahul Gandhi

Vinesh Phogat News: The Congress has alleged that wrestler Vinesh Phogat was served with a show-cause notice by the Indian Railways after her September 4 meeting with party leader Rahul Gandhi. On Friday, Phogat and fellow grappler Bajrang Punia joined the Congress party, ending weeks of speculation about their entry into mainstream politics.

Hours before joining the Congress, both the wrestlers quit their jobs with the Railways. Addressing a press conference after the joining ceremony, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal said, "Vinesh Phogat got showcause notice from Railway authorities; her only 'crime' was to meet Rahul Gandhi."

Phogat and Punia had met Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday (September 4). Notably, Phogat and Punia are among those who were at the forefront of a lengthy protest by a group of wrestlers in Delhi last year against the then-WFI chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Singh over his alleged sexual misconduct with female grapplers. 

"I thank Congress party. Kehte hain na ki bure time mein pata lagta hai ki apna kaun hai. When we were being dragged on the road, all parties in the country except BJP were with us. They felt our tears, they felt our pain. I feel proud that I have joined a party which stands with women and is ready to fight from 'sadak to sansad'. And I promise that with the zeal and will we have put in wrestling, we will stand with every citizen of the country especially women," Phogat said after being welcomed in the Congress.

(With inputs from agencies)