New Delhi:

Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined the Congress Wednesday afternoon and will contest next month’s Haryana Assembly election. Ms Phogat is expected to challenge for the Julana seat held by the Jannayak Janta Party’s Amarjeet Dhanda. Mr Punia’s likely seat is unclear. The two met Congress MP Rahul Gandhi today, after which news of their political and electoral debut was confirmed.

Ms Phogat and Mr Punia made headlines last year after leading protests against former wrestling body chief Brij Bhushan Singh, who faces charges of sexual assault and intimidation. He was also a BJP MP at the time but was denied a ticket to defend Uttar Pradesh’s Kaiserganj Lok Sabha seat.

The BJP, instead, fielded his son, Karan Bhushan Singh, who won the seat.

The Congress will hope that bringing Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia onboard will strengthen its appeal among voters in the Hindi heartland state, which the BJP has ruled since 2014. Ms Phogat’s connect with Haryana farmers – lakhs of whom continue to protest against the BJP on issues like legal guarantees for MSP – will also have been a factor in the Congress’ consideration.

Last week Ms Phogat visited farmers camped out at a protest site in Shambhu on the Haryana-Delhi border, describing herself as “your daughter” and saying she prays to God to deliver justice for them.

“Your agitation completes 200 days today. I pray to God that you get what you came for – justice. Your daughter stands with you. I also urge the government… we too are citizens of India and just because we raise our voices it is not political,” she said, “You (the government) should hear them.”

Then, though, when asked about her political debut, Ms Phogat was circumspect.

“I will not speak on this… I will not talk about politics. I have come to see my family. If you (the press) insist on talking about this you will take focus away from their (the farmers’) struggle. The focus is not on me today. The focus should be on the farmers, I request this…” she said.

A Delhi court today framed charges against BJP MP and former wrestling boss Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a case of sexual harassment of women wrestlers. Indian Penal Code sections relating to sexual harassment, use of force against a woman and criminal intimidation have been slapped on the heavyweight politician.

The BJP MP was brought to Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court this afternoon. When the case came up, he pleaded not guilty to the sexual harassment allegations and said he is ready to face the trial. “When I have not committed any mistake, why will I admit it?” he said.

The court then framed the charges and asked Brijbhushan Singh to sign the related documents.

A six-time MP from Uttar Pradesh, he was denied a poll pass by the BJP this time, apparently over the public glare surrounding the sexual harassment allegations. The party, instead, fielded his son Karan Bhushan Singh from the Kaiserganj seat he has represented thrice.

“Charges have been framed, now Delhi Police have to prove them. I have proof of my innocence. These are false cases. There is a legal process, we must follow it,” he told the media later. Asked if the allegations cost him a poll ticket, Brijbhushan Singh replied, with a smile, “My son has got a ticket.”

The former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers. Olympians Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshee Malikhh led a street protest in national capital Delhi in January last year, demanding action against him. In the aftermath of the protest, Delhi Police filed two FIRs against him, one under the stringent Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Delhi Police later filed a cancellation report in the POCSO case after the complainant retracted her statement. Delhi’s Patiala House court has reserved order on the cancellation report. The FIR which has come up in court now relates to allegations of harassment by six women wrestlers.