'Reaching its climax ... ': Khattar's big 'political' charge on wrestlers' protest after Rahul Gandhi's meet with Phogat, Punia

NEW DELHI: Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar made a big claim against the wrestlers' protest on Wednesday as Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

The former Haryana CM said last year's protest is finally "reaching its climax" as the wrestlers ask Congress for tickets to contest Haryana Assembly elections. Khattar also claimed the protest has always been politically motivated.

Khattar, who is also Haryana's ex-CM, said on Wednesday athletes "got trapped in a political maze".

"I think our athletes got trapped in a political maze at that time (wrestlers' protest). It is reaching its climax today, the same people are urging Congress for a ticket. It means that the entire matter was political," Khattar told news agency ANI on reports that Congress may give tickets to protesting wrestlers.

Khattar's remark comes amid speculation that Congress may field wrestler Vinesh Phogat for the Haryana elections.

Earlier in the day, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia -- who were at the centre of wrestlers' protest against then WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh -- met Congress leader and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

Phogat and Punia, along with fellow wrestler Sakshi Malik, had leveled serious allegations against Brij Bhushan.

They had accused him of sexual exploitation and intimidation, demanding his resignation and the dissolution of the federation. However, the WFI categorically denied the allegations.

The Election Commission has scheduled the Haryana assembly elections for October 5, with the counting of votes set to take place on October 8.

The polling date was revised from the initially planned October 1, and the counting for both Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana assemblies was rescheduled from October 4 to October 8.
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