Gurgaon

Former Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has stated that those happy over her loss in the Paris Olympics should be tried for "sedition". Phogat was disqualified from participating in the final of her wrestling event after she was found overweight and stripped of the medals. 

Advertisment

Phogat, who joined the Indian National Congress (INC) earlier this week, claimed that people who they enjoyed her Olympic medal loss were disrespecting the nation. 

"We have been hearing such statements (by BJP leaders) for the last 1.5 years. This shows their mentality. If they are saying that they are happy that I didn't win at the Olympics, they should be tried for sedition. That medal didn't belong to me but to the whole nation. They have disrespected the nation," Phogat was quoted as saying by India Today TV. 

Ahead of the Haryana assembly polls, Phogat is attempting to make her disqualification and subsequent reaction from some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders a major talking topic. She added that none of the leaders from the saffron party approached her to show solidarity. 

Advertisment

"When I returned to India from Paris, a huge roadshow was held to welcome me. No one from the BJP, be it the chief minister, deputy CM or any other leader, came to welcome me and show support," said Phogat. 

"They just put statements on social media that we gave this much (monetary rewards) to me but everyone knows that they are doing it for votes," she added.

Watch | Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat joins Congress

Advertisment

×

'God punished her'

Notably, Phogat's verbal salvo comes a day after former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said 'god had punished her'. 

“I want to ask Vinesh Phogat whether a player can give trials in two weight categories in one day? Can the trials be paused for five hours after the weigh-in?... You did not win the wrestling; you went there by cheating. God has punished you for it," Singh said.

"She went to the Olympics by taking the spot of the girl who had defeated her in the trials, and by creating a commotion. Therefore, whatever happened to her was justified, and she deserved it,” he added.

Also read | BJP allegedly issues gag order on Brij Bhushan Singh over remarks on Phogat, Punia joining Congress

'Will prove him wrong'

Responding to Singh's claims that she had cheated during the trials, Phogat said that she would prove him wrong. 

"Nobody cares what he says. Think of what he said -- that he would hang himself if any woman came forward to accuse him. Many did," said Phogat. 

"He said I tried to move forward by cheating. That i wanted to change the rules. That I do not want to compete at national levels or at trials. But I did compete nationally, I competed at trials, I went to Olympics, I qualified by myself. I have proved him wrong at every turn and will do so now as well, for whatever he is saying," she added.

Phogat, who bid adieu to the sport after the disqualification, will be contesting the elections from the Julana seat. Phogat joined the grand old party alongside former Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia. 

(With inputs from agencies)