Vinesh Phogat bats for women’s safety, jobs after casting vote in Haryana polls

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat said that she cast her vote in the Haryana Assembly elections for the party that worked for the safety of women and for providing jobs.

After casting her vote at a polling station in Charkhi Dadri in the state, Phogat, who is the Congress’ candidate from Julana constituency, told news agency ANI, “I voted for the party that works for the rights of women and for providing jobs. You all know which party I am speaking about,” she said, referring to the Congress.

“It is a huge festival for Haryana. I appeal to the people of the state to come out and cast their votes,” Phogat said.

She further said that 10 years ago, the level of sports in the state was good under the then Congress chief minister Bhupinder Hooda.

On being asked if Phogat would get a ministerial berth if she wins, she said that it would be decided by the party.

Recently, talking to India Today TV, the 30-year-old wrestler had said that entering politics was “a necessity” for her.

Phogat had said that she decided to join politics after the wrestlers’ protest didn’t yield any results.

“We fought on the streets, what did we gain? We got nothing but mistreatment and humiliation. I went to the Olympics. Did I receive justice? Nothing. We never got justice. Entering politics was not a choice, but a necessity,” she had said.

Notably, Phogat’s entry into the Congress as a sportsperson and a Jat representative made Julana a high-stakes seat. JJP’s Amarjeet Dhanda had won from the Jhulana seat in 2019.