'Shameful': Babita Phogat Slams Congress Over Bhupinder Hooda’s Rajya Sabha Comment On Vinesh Phogat

Former wrestler and BJP leader Babita Phogat on Thursday slammed the Congress party over comments made by its veteran leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda about her cousin and fellow wrestler Vinesh Phogat.

Hooda had suggested that if Congress had the numbers in the state assembly, he would have nominated Vinesh to the Rajya Sabha.

“Someone should learn from Congress how to find political opportunities in a disaster!!” Babita wrote in a post on X, sharing another post by Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda, Bhupinder’s son, who supported his father’s suggestion.

Vinesh, 29, was disqualified from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games after being found 100 grams overweight just before her gold medal bout in the 50 kg category.

Babita further criticised the Congress for using the situation for political gain, saying, “On one hand, the country and Vinesh are not able to recover from the shock of being disqualified from the Olympics and on the other hand, Dipendra ji, you and your father have started doing politics over Vinesh’s defeat.”

“Vinesh is the champion of champions and the Congress party is the champion of politics who is not even affected by the pain of the players. This is very shameful and worrying!!,” Babita stated.

Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda had shared a video clip of his father Bhupinder expressing his willingness to nominate Vinesh for the Rajya Sabha.

In his post on X, Deepender wrote, “I fully support Hooda Sahab’s statement of sending champion sister Vinesh Phogat to the Rajya Sabha. All the political parties of Haryana are also requested to come to a consensus on this issue and consider it seriously.”

Bhupinder’s comment a political stunt: Mahavir Phogat

The comments made by Bhupinder, former Haryana Chief Minister, also drew criticism from others. Mahavir Phogat, Vinesh’s uncle and Babita’s father, called Hooda’s remarks as a “political stunt”.

He pointed out that despite her record-setting achievements, wrestler Geeta Phogat was not nominated to the Rajya Sabha when Hooda was in office.

“Today Bhupinder Hooda said that he would have sent Vinesh to the Rajya Sabha if he could. Why did he not send Geeta Phogat when his government was there?,” Mahavir asked.

Geeta Phogat is Mahavir’s daughter and Vinesh’s cousin.

“Geeta Phogat set many records. When the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government was in power, he did not even make Geeta a deputy superintendent of police. How can Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda now claim this?,” he added.