‘Removed through conspiracy’: Brij Bhushan Singh’s big charge after sexual harassment-linked ouster; vows Lok Sabha return | India News

NEW DELHI: Former Kaiserganj MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Wednesday alleged that he was removed from the Lok Sabha through a “conspiracy” and not by the will of the people. The senior BJP leader asserted that he would contest parliamentary elections again if he remains alive.Speaking on a podcast, Brij Bhushan said that his political career in Parliament was “cut short” and that he was “humiliated and forced out” despite representing the region multiple times. “If I am alive, I will definitely go to the Lok Sabha once again. I will try to contest on a BJP ticket. If the party does not give a ticket, I will contest as an Independent candidate. But if I am alive, I will contest,” he said.Singh also said that he was hurt for not being invited to the second anniversary celebrations of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, despite being a public representative, news agency PTI reported. He claimed that the original karsevaks of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement were ignored, while others with no role were invited. Singh said that he declined a later invitation on grounds of self-respect.Former MP added that he has not visited Ram Lalla yet and when he does, he will stand in the queue like an ordinary devotee.Referring to the period when allegations of sexual harassment were levelled against him by women wrestlers, Singh said Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav did not make any statement against him, a gesture he said he would “never forget”. He added that leaders from the BSP, JD(U) and RJD also refrained from commenting against him at the time.Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a six-time MP who represented three parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh’s Devipatan division, was denied a BJP ticket in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections following allegations by six female wrestlers. The party instead fielded his son, Karan Bhushan Singh, who won the Kaiserganj seat and currently represents it in Parliament.Following the allegations of sexual harassment, several female wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, protested against Brij Bhushan. In May 2024, a Delhi court framed charges against Singh for sexual harassment, outraging the modesty of women and criminal intimidation based on complaints filed by five women wrestlers. Singh pleaded not guilty, maintaining that he had committed no wrongdoing. The court said the allegations reflected a “systematic and recurring pattern” and ordered that the case proceed to trial. He was discharged in one related complaint dating back to 2012.In August 2024, Singh approached the Delhi High Court seeking to quash the FIR, chargesheet and trial court orders.