Deepender Hooda receives Vinesh Phogat on her return to India, ‘upsets’ BJP’s plans of grand welcome

Haryana Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda had already made his plans clear when he announced that the Congress would nominate Vinesh Phogat to Rajya Sabha if it had adequate numbers. The polling for the Rajya Sabha seat from Haryana vacated by Deepender Hooda after his election to the Lok Sabha will be held on September 3.

Vinesh Phogat’s uncle Mahavir Phogat had termed Bhupinder Hooda’s ‘wish’ to send Vinesh Phogat to Rajya Sabha as a “political stunt”.

“Vinesh was, is, and shall always remain a champion… People have queued up to welcome our daughter Vinesh Phogat all the way from Delhi to Balali village (Vinesh Phogat’s native place),” Deepender Hooda said.

Deepender Hooda was among the first few Congress leaders who had come out in support of Vinesh Phogat and other wrestlers from Haryana during their protest at Jantar Mantar against the then-BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Meanwhile, even as the Congress was holding a roadshow with Vinesh Phogat in New Delhi, Haryana BJP Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini briefed media persons in Chandigarh about the decisions taken by his government with regard to Vinesh Phogat.

Saini said, “Haryana’s government and the BJP are standing with Vinesh Phogat. She is our daughter and we shall always stand with her.”

The Haryana Government has announced that Vinesh Phogat shall be treated like an Olympic silver medallist even though the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed her appeal for a joint-silver medal in the 50-kg freestyle wrestling category of the Paris Olympics.

Notably, the poll fever in Haryana has started to rise with the Election Commission Friday announcing that the polling for the 90-member Assembly will be held on October 1, and the counting of votes will be conducted on October 4.