New Delhi: Farmers from Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) joined the wrestlers’ protest on Monday at Jantar Mantar. Videos show farmers breaking the barricades and trying to get to the protesting area.
Wrestlers resumed their protest at the Jantar Mantar on April 28 against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and a BJP MP, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, over allegations of sexual harassment from several female athletes, including a minor.
Top developments:
Samyukt Kisan Morcha and other farmer bodies joined in the wrestler’s protest. This comes after they announced a nationwide protest in support of the wrestlers on Saturday.
Rakesh Tikait, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson, and Sankyut Kisan Morcha’s Baldev Singh Sirsa joined the wrestlers in their protest.
Amid the farmers joining the protest site, wrestler Vinesh Phogat assured that the protest had not been hijacked by the farmers.
Security in the port area and the border area was tightened; over 2000 police personnel were deployed in the areas on Sunday.
The wrestlers had formed two committees to assist them in decision-making during the protest. They talked about the committees. Wrestler Bajrang Punia said that while one committee of 31 members will represent the different Khaps, student unions, and farm leaders who are supporting the protesting wrestlers, the other committee will be made up of members from the wrestling world.
He went on to say that the protesting wrestlers would not be part of any committee.
On Sunday, the wrestlers’ committee, in the presence of the farmers and supporters from women’s organisations, gave a deadline of May 21 for accepting their demands and arresting WFI president Singh.
On Sunday, the protesting wrestlers also called for a nationwide candle march.
WFI president, Brij Bhusan Sharan Singh, posted a video on his Facebook page on Saturday after the farmers announced that they would join in the protest in support of women wrestlers, saying that they should not make the mistake and should wait for the outcome of the investigations. He went on to say, “From the first day, I said that if charges against me are proven, I will hang myself.”
Singh claimed to be innocent and alleged that he was being targeted because he made reforms in the selection process for the wrestlers.