Farmers, khap panchayat leaders, the DTC workers’ union — over 500 people gathered at Jantar Mantar Sunday to lend their support to the wrestlers’ ongoing protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is facing sexual harassment allegations.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) and other khaps, after a meeting during the day, issued an ultimatum to the central government to arrest the WFI chief else they would sit on an indefinite protest at Jantar Mantar and across the city.
Addressing the media along with Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik and world championship medallist Vinesh Phogat, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait issued an ultimatum to the Centre — arrest Singh by May 21 and give justice to our daughters. “This is very serious, there should be no politics over it.”
He added, “The farmers’ union and khap panchayat leaders will meet again on May 21 to decide what should be done next. Till then, a khap will come to Jantar Mantar every day to extend support to our daughters. If anything happens to our daughters, then the entire nation will gather here to support them.”
Demanding that police arrest Singh first and then proceed with his interrogation, Phogat said, “Police have registered an FIR in the matter but statement under Section 164 has not been recorded. A decision will be taken on May 21 if our demands are not met. No one has hijacked this protest; we thank everyone here and across the country for standing with us in our fight.”
The SKM said that from May 11 to 18, a nation-wide agitation will be held at state capitals, district headquarters and taluk headquarters where public meetings and protest marches will be organised and effigies of Singh and his supporters will be burnt.
Later in the day, the wrestlers along with others held a candlelight march.
Around 16 kisan unions from Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and other states, under the umbrella of the SKM, were at the site. Besides, the protest also found support in the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) workers’ union and senior leaders from the Congress such as Raj Babbar.
The protesters also raised slogans against the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister for allegedly staying silent on the matter.
Security was stepped up across the borders including at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur and at key points ahead of the mahapanchayat. Apart from the Delhi Police, personnel from the CISF and CRPF were on the ground to check protesters before letting them enter the protest site.
