Amidst the controversies surrounding the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Congress party, made an “impromptu” visit to ‘akhara’ in the Jhajjar district of Haryana on Wednesday morning, where he encountered a group of wrestlers including Bajrang Punia.
Gandhi arrived at the “Virender Akhara” in the Chhara village early in the morning, according to a senior Congress leader from Haryana. Later on, he spoke with Punia and the other wrestlers. Gandhi spent a few hours at the akhara.
The former Congress president’s meeting with the wrestlers comes amid the controversy surrounding the WFI. Punia informed reporters that Gandhi talked about the daily activities of the wrestlers at the Akhara and interacted with them.
In response to a query, he said that the wrestlers at the “akhara” were unaware of Gandhi’s visit and that it was “impromptu”. “He reached the Akhara at 6.15 am. He asked us about our daily routine, saw how we do our exercises and he too did some exercises. We were happy that he has a lot of wrestling knowledge and also knows some techniques,” the wrestler told reporters.
He further added that Gandhi also had milk, “Bajre Ki Roti” and “saag” with them. Gandhi was also offered some locally grown vegetables which he took along with him, as per PTI.
Two-time World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat chose on Tuesday to return her Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards to the Prime Minister, stating that such recognition has no value in the face of wrestlers’ extreme struggles for justice.
Phogat made his decision a few days after Rio Games bronze medallist Sakshi Malik announced quitting wrestling following Sanjay Singh’s election as WFI president on December 21. Olympic medallist Punia and Deaflympic champion Virender Singh Yadav returned his Padma Shri awards.
Brij Bhushan Singh Sharan associate of Sanjay Singh, and the wrestlers did not want anyone connected to the BJP MP to join the WFI.
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