New Delhi, India

The BJP has asked its former MP, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, to avoid making any comments against Olympic wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, according to media reports on Sunday (Sep 8).

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The gag order came shortly after Singh, who once headed the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), criticised the two wrestlers for joining the Congress party before the Haryana Assembly elections, and raised questions on their protests before the general elections in India. 

During a media interaction, Singh said that while Vinesh and Bajrang rose to fame through their success in wrestling, their decision to join Congress would tarnish their reputations.

Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia were the key figures in the wrestlers' protest last year, accusing Singh of misconduct involving young female wrestlers.

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Singh said in an interview with PTI, "They (Punia and Ms Phogat) were the faces... they were mohrey (pawns). They were used like pawns by (former Haryana Chief Minister) Bhupinder Hooda, the Congress and the Congress family."

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"This was all conspired to gain a hold on the Wrestling Federation of India and to attack the BJP and its ideology... This team of Rahul (Gandhi), the Congress keeps doing these things," he added.

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Singh also stated that Vinesh and Bajrang were wrong if they thought they could win the upcoming elections. "They can contest any Assembly seat in Haryana, a small BJP candidate will defeat them," PTI quoted him as saying.

Vinesh Phogat will contest from the Julana Assembly seat in Haryana on Congress ticket. Meanwhile, Bajrang Punia was appointed the leader of the All India Kisan Congress and will be involved in the election campaign.

On September 6, Phogat and Punia joined Congress, saying they would "not being scared or back off." Phogat, after joining Congress, criticised the BJP, stating that they stood by Singh while Congress backed the wrestlers during their protests when they "were being dragged on the roads" in Delhi.

(With inputs from agencies)