Fact check: Did Anju Bobby George joins BJP?

Former Indian track-and-field star Anju Bobby George has denied the claims of News agencies that she joined Bharatiya Janatha Party. She said that her meeting with V. Murlaeedharan was not about politics. He is a family friend, she added.

Union Minister for State for External Affairs V. Murlaeedharan on Sunday dismissed media reports which claimed that Anju Bobby George had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during a meeting in Bengaluru.

Speaking to the media, Muraleedharan said there was nothing political about the meeting which took place on Saturday.

“I have had a long association with Anju and her husband Robert Bobby George. Yesterday, I had a party programme in Bengaluru. I invited her to the dais, as she is an internationally acclaimed athlete,” said Muraleedharan, the only leader from Kerala in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet.

“As the meeting was going on, we talked and not a word of politics was spoken. She was talking about her institute,” he added.

Anju said that she usually visits Muraleedharan whenever he is in Bangalore and that this time he was participating in a party program. ” they invited me to the dias and gave me BJP flag as a greeting. I have not taken membership in BJP. I have no plan to do so. Sportspersons belong to everyone, and not to any political party. ” Anju said.

ANI had given news claiming Anju’s membership to BJP and has not rectified the mistake yet.

Former long jumper Anju (42) hails from Kottayam in Kerala and is presently employed with the Customs in Bengaluru.

In 2003, She made history by becoming the first Indian athlete to win a medal at the World Championships when she won the bronze in Paris with a leap of 6.70m.

She achieved her personal best of 6.83m, which is still a national record, at the 2004 Athens Olympics which fetched her the fifth position.

An Arjuna awardee, George has represented the country at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and World Championships from 2002 onwards.