During the ongoing Haryana Assembly elections, Congress leaders Priyanka Vadra and Vinesh Phogat heaped praises at each other. While both the leaders exchanged pleasantries, netizens slammed the Congress leaders for their ‘lies’ over their role in the imaginary ‘Olympic medal’. Notably, while seeking votes for her party candidate, Vinesh Phogat, Priyanka Vadra claimed that the female grappler “won a medal” at the Olympics. However, the wrestler ended without any ranking at her event, let alone winning a medal, as she was disqualified for being overweight before her final bout at the mega event.
After the major upset for India, the Congress party manufactured a political storm out of the wrestler’s disqualification which was a tragic consequence of her own accord. Alleging a conspiracy against Vinesh, Congress and its supportive ecosystem made unsubstantiated, blatantly false, and politically motivated charges against the Modi government. Peddling the conspiracy theory, they alleged that a conspiracy was hatched against Vinesh. Subsequently, as part of their scheme, the ecosystem later awarded her a ‘Khap’ Panchayat medal.
“Vinesh Phogat worked hard and won an Olympic medal – Vadrain”
Pappu’s sister confused a Khap medal with an Olympian’s medal 🤡 https://t.co/5R62a1ovOQ pic.twitter.com/3EbNhjzoCG
— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) October 2, 2024
While addressing a political rally in Haryana, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “The same thing happened with Vinesh (Phogat), her parents sent her with trust, she made the hard yards, fought, and reached the Olympics and her struggles bore fruits, she won a medal. The whole country felt happy and proud, everybody saw her as their daughter.”
However, netizens were quick to call out her lies pointing out that the Congress candidate, Vinesh, won no Olympic medal in her wrestling career.
Meanwhile, Congress candidate from Julana, Vinesh Phogat himself went on to “credit” Priyanka Vadra for “ensuring” that she participated in the Olympics.
Vinesh said, “You must have seen me in the Olympics but if I say that Priyanka Gandhi played a big role in getting me there, that wouldn’t be a lie.”
I went to Olympics with Priyanka Gandhi’s help – Vinesh Phogat
This woman has lost her mind completely… I’ve never seen such shameless creature in my life.pic.twitter.com/yIpO2YGW07
— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) October 2, 2024
Khap Gold Medalist and now Congress candidate from Julana, Haryana Vinesh Phogat:
The biggest contribution to my going to the Olympics is from Priyanka Vadra Gandhi Ji…! pic.twitter.com/J4xJgnzJsS
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) October 2, 2024
However, the Congress candidate’s remark doesn’t hold water as politicians let alone Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, don’t have a say in the Olympic trials. And if they did, it could even lead to the disqualification of the Indian wrestling fraternity as a whole for “political interference in sports”.
However, contrary to her claims, as a non-political interference, the Modi government, through initiatives like TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme), ensured all the best facilities for Indian athletes before and during the Olympic event.
Again, contrary to the allegations, the Congress candidate, Vinesh, gained ‘favours’ from the system even when she had been launching smear campaign against the Modi government. Interestingly, during the Olympic trials, the adamant and ‘distrusting’, Vinesh Phogat was allowed to compete in “two weight” categories in a day, a favour unknown to be given to other athletes by the wrestling body and the Indian Olympic contingent.
All in all, Vinesh Phogat’s remark crediting Priyanka Vadra for her Olympic berth, devoid of bases, can only be a sheer political stunt at best, a remark to share credit with her party leader amid the election season, when there exists none.
