Rahul Gandhi's 'Baahubali' Jibe At PM Modi After Vinesh Phogat Returns Awards

Rahul Gandhi shared a video in which Phogat can be seen keeping the two awards in the middle of Kartavya Path in the national capital.

Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi.

Source : PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called out Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday after wrestler Vinesh Phogat returned her Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards on Saturday. Gandhi took to social media platform X and took a swipe at PM Modi, indirectly mentioning former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and said, "Today, did the price of 'political benefits' received from a 'proclaimed Bahubali' exceed the tears of these brave daughters?". Singh had been accused of sexual harassment by wrestlers. 

The Wayanad MP shared a video in which Phogat can be seen keeping the two awards in the middle of Kartavya Path in the national capital after the Delhi Police stopped her from reaching the Prime Minister's office.

"For every daughter of the country, self-respect comes first, any other medal or honor comes after that. Today, did the price of 'political benefits' received from a 'proclaimed Bahubali' exceed the tears of these brave daughters? The Prime Minister is the guardian of the nation, it hurts to see such cruelty on his part," Rahul Gandhi wrote on X.

देश की हर बेटी के लिये आत्मसम्मान पहले है, अन्य कोई भी पदक या सम्मान उसके बाद।

आज क्या एक ‘घोषित बाहुबली’ से मिलने वाले ‘राजनीतिक फायदे’ की कीमत इन बहादुर बेटियों के आंसुओं से अधिक हो गई?

प्रधानमंत्री राष्ट्र का अभिभावक होता है, उसकी ऐसी निष्ठुरता देख पीड़ा होती है। pic.twitter.com/XpoU6mY1w9

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 31, 2023

Phogat, along with Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, had protested against the election of Sanjay Singh, a close aide of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

On Saturday, Vinesh Phogat returned her awards in protest against the alleged mistreatment of women wrestlers in the country. On Tuesday, Phogat had decided to return her Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award to the government, saying such honours have become meaningless at a time when wrestlers are struggling to get justice. Phogat had announced her decision in a letter to PM Modi.