'Main kyu jaunga?' Suresh Raina gives blunt reply on wrestler Vinesh Phogat joining Congress party

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Former India cricketer Suresh Raina gave a blunt reply after he was asked for his reaction on Vinesh Phogat joining Haryana Congress ahead of the assembly elections in the state.

The question was asked to Suresh Raina in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat where he visited the famous Sheshnag Temple. The temple is located in the Bamnauli village of the district which is also the native place of his in-laws. Raina was accompanied by his wife Priyanka.

"Mujhe nahi pata kisne kya join kiya hai par meri taraf se sabko shubhkamnaye (I don't know who has joined which party, but best wishes to everyone)," Suresh Raina replied bluntly.

The reporter then asked him if he would campaign for Vinesh Phogat if she contests in the elections. The 37-year-old once again gave a crisp answer and said, "Muje Naag Devta ne bulaya main aagya hu darshan karne, main q jaunga? (The Snake God called me so I came here to visit, why would I go?)"

Ending days of speculation, wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined the Congress on Friday ahead of the Haryana Assembly polls.

Phogat and Punia met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at his 10, Rajaji Marg, residence. They later joined the Congress at the AICC headquarters in the presence of Congress general secretary in-charge organisation KC Venugopal, AICC general secretary in-charge Haryana Deepak Babaria, Haryana Congress chief Uday Bhan and the Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera.

At the press conference during which they joined the party, Venugopal claimed that Phogat had been issued a show cause notice by the Railways after she met Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday. Party sources said the notice talked about violating service rules by meeting political leaders.

“I thank the people of the country and the media, you supported me throughout my wrestling journey. I thank the Congress party. Tough times tell you about who is with you. When we were dragged on the roads, all parties except the BJP stood with us,” Phogat said at the press conference.

“I am starting a new innings. I want sportspersons don’t have to face what we had to go through,” Phogat said.

“We will not be scared and won’t back off. Our court case is going on, we will win that also,” she said.

(With Input From PTI)