Former Wrestling Federation of India President and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has criticized Congress leaders and renowned wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, branding them as "khalnayak" (villains). Singh's comments come shortly after Phogat and Punia joined the Congress party on September 6, ahead of the Haryana assembly elections.

Singh stated, "They are villains of Haryana, especially to athletes." He accused Bajrang Punia of exploiting his wife for political advantage and criticized Vinesh Phogat for breaking rules by participating in trials for two weight categories on the same day, which he claimed adversely affected junior wrestlers.

According to Singh, if Phogat and Punia were to step aside, India would secure at least five wrestling medals at the next Olympics. "If these individuals had not protested, we would have won five medals in wrestling. Let them step aside, and I promise we will bring home five medals in the next Olympics," Singh asserted.

Singh also blamed Punia, Phogat, Bhupender Hooda, and the Congress party for the current struggles of female athletes, stating, "Today, if female athletes can't walk with their heads held high, it is due to Bajrang, Vinesh, Hooda, and the Congress party."

Punia, who won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, and Phogat, who made history as the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the Olympics final in Paris last month, both resigned from their positions in Northern Railways on Friday. Following their joining of the Congress party, Phogat was nominated for the Julana constituency in the Haryana elections, and Punia was appointed as the working president of the All India Kisan Congress.

Haryana's 90-member legislative assembly election is scheduled for October 5, with the last date for nominations set for September 12 and the vote counting on October 8.

In the 2019 elections, the BJP secured 40 seats, forming a coalition government with the JJP, which won 10 seats. The Congress obtained 31 seats. The BJP-JJP alliance was dissolved earlier this year.

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