New Delhi: Babita Phogat, a prominent BJP leader and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, firmly rejected Sakshi Malik and Satyawart Kadian’s claim in connection with the permission for the sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar in January.

Phogat dismissed their allegations, portraying the couple as mere "puppets under the influence of the Congress."

Phogat's response came after Malik and Kadian posted a video statement, where they asserted that they had obtained permission from Phogat and Tirath Rana, another BJP leader, to protest against the Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for alleged sexual harassment, assault, and stalking of seven women wrestlers, including a minor.

In a long statement posted on her Hindi Twitter account, Phogat clarified that there was no evidence to show her consent on the permission document shown by Malik in the video statement. She emphasized that the document was completely had no connection with her.

Phogat stated that she had never supported the wrestlers' protest from the very beginning.

She reiterated that she had consistently advised them to approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to address the matter, assuring them that the necessary solutions would be provided through that channel.

Phogat claimed that they sought help from Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi and Deepender Hooda, who are themselves guilty of many cases.

She would always stand with her fellow wrestlers of the country but she was "sad and laughing" at the same time when she saw the video statement of Malik and Kadiyan.

The BJP leader expressed her opinion that the wrestlers' march to the new Parliament building and their decision to immerse their medals in the river Ganga had caused embarrassment to the nation.

In her statement, Phogat said the people of the country have understood that the protesting wrestlers have become a puppet in the hands of the Congress and they should reveal their actual intentions as people are now asking them questions.

Earlier on Sunday, Sakshi Malik clarified that they had actually taunted Phogat and Rana in the video message to convey how they were trying to use the protesting wrestlers for their selfish motives.