"These athletes were playing on Congress' lap": Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Arun Sao criticises Vinesh Phogat on joining Congress

Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], September 7 : Following wrestler Vinesh Phogat's statement where she said that when the wrestlers were dragged on the road, all parties except the BJP were with them, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao said that from this it can be understood that the two athletes were playing on the lap of the Congress rather than being the son and daughter of the country.
Speaking to ANI on Saturday, Sao said, "From this, we can understand that these two athletes, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, were playing on the lap of Congress rather than being the son and daughter of the country; it seems all clear."
He further stressed the fact that Phogat's allegations were baseless, as the BJP had always taken action as per the legal procedures and had stood by the truth.
"And on the matter of the BJP, action has always been taken as per the justice and legal procedures and the BJP has always stood by truth so her allegation is baseless. She is making this statement as part of politics as she has become the Congress candidate," he added.
Earlier on Friday, after joining the Congress party along with wrestler Bajrang Punia, Phogat expressed pride and said that the party "understood their pain and tears" when they faced police action during the protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar last year.
Speaking at the press conference that day, Phogat said, "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 except the BJP were with us. I feel proud that I have joined a party that stands with women and is ready to fight from 'sadak to sansad'."
On Friday, 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.