‘Your daughter stands with you’: Vinesh joins farmers at Shambhu

Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 31

Triggering speculation of her possible foray into electoral politics ahead of the Haryana Assembly polls, Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Saturday joined protesting farmers at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana. “Your daughter stands with you,” she assured them.

She, however, declined to comment on her plans to start a political career and said, “I do not have much knowledge about politics. However, if you ask me about sports, I could share some insights.” Asked if she would support farmers in Haryana should they launch an agitation, she replied, “Why not?”

“Farmers of the country are upset and their problems need to be addressed. It should be the government’s priority to address their problems. I belong to a family of farmers and understand their pain and suffering. Their struggle will not go in vain, I am sure about this,” said Phogat, who recently faced a heartbreaking exit after being disqualified on the day of her 50-kg final match at the Paris Olympics.

The farmers have been protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points since February 13, when their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces.

A large gathering of farmers on Saturday marked the 200th day of their struggle at both sites. Phogat joined them in a show of solidarity. Interacting with the media at the Shambhu border, Phogat said farmers had been sitting at the border for over 200 days. “It is painful to see them sitting on the road, braving scorching heat and rain,” she said, adding, “If farmers do not provide food, even the players won’t be able to do anything. Sometimes, we feel helpless and go through immense mental conflict. On one hand, we proudly represent our country on big platforms like the Olympics and on the other, our families are in distress and protesting for their rights. Our country will not progress like this.”

At Khanauri, Phogat paid tribute to Shubhkaran Singh of Bathinda who was killed in police firing during the protest on February 21. She said his sacrifice would not go in vain.

Phogat was part of the agitation by wrestlers, mostly from Haryana, against the then WFI chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.