Various farmer leaders joined the wrestlers protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Sunday and gave a 15-day ultimatum to the government to arrest him and said that the future course of action would be decided after that.
The decision was taken at a meeting, attended by representatives of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), khap leaders, wrestlers and members of a 31-member committee that is advising the players on their movement, on the sidelines of a mahapanchayat which was organised in the national capital in support of the grapplers.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said that another meeting had been scheduled for May 21 and if Mr. Singh was not arrested by then, the leaders would take a “big decision” to intensify the movement.
Various wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, have been staging a protest against Mr. Singh who has been accused of sexual harassment.
At the press conference, Ms. Phogat said that their protest had not been hijacked by the farmer leaders but the “elders have only extended their support to our fight”.
Mr. Tikait said that the wrestlers would take decisions related to the protest and that the farmer leaders would only support them from outside. “Everyday members of various khaps will come to Delhi for the protest and return by the evening,” he added.
Other farmer leaders such as Khap Maham 24 chief Mehar Singh and Sankyut Kisan Morcha (non-political) leaders Baldev Singh Sirsa were among the hundreds of protesters who joined the grapplers during the mahapanchayat.
Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait, Khap Maham 24 chief Mehar Singh and Sankyut Kisna Morcha's (non-political) Baldev Singh Sirsa joined the wrestlers on the dias and addressed the media.
There has been a heavy deployment of Rapid Action Force (RAF) at the protest site with many khap leaders and farmers joining the aggrieved wrestlers.
The turbaned farmers, clad in dhoti-kurtas, and numbering in hundreds were seen at the protest site on Sunday as a 'Mahapanchayat' discussed the next move on behalf of the wrestlers.
The scenes were similar to the farmers' protest that continued for 13 months until the government repealed the law.
The Delhi Police have recorded statements of the seven women complainants under section 161 while the statements under 164 (before a magistrate) under Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) are yet to be recorded.
The wrestlers have accused Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan of sexual exploitation of several women wrestlers over a period of time and have demanded his removal.
Mr. Tikait said the tri-colour has been shamed and it will not be tolerated.
"We will help the wrestlers in every possible manner," he said, adding that it will be a long haul and it may spread to the entire country.
"It (Jantar Mantar) will remain the protest site as of now. The protest will gather momentum and spread. We have to be prepared for a long battle," he added.
"This is not a political protest, this is a non-political organisation. But a few politicians have come in support of the wrestlers, cutting across party lines."
Mr. Sirsa said, "We have also decided that we will force the government to arrest Brij Bhushan. The way farmers had fought their battle (against farm laws), the wrestlers will continue their struggle in the same way."
"I request that the government does not test our patience. They had tested us some time back and we had cleared the exam," Sirsa said, referring to the farmers' victory in getting the farm laws repealed.
Vinesh Phogat, the world championship medallist, also hinted that the protest may become bigger if their demands are not met.
"We can take a big call if a resolution does not come by May 21. No one has hijacked our protest, it's just that people have joined us in our fight against injustice. These people respect us and care for our dignity," she said.
"All the women can connect to this battle of ours. The supporters have given us strength. We are ready to fight."
Asked if they are mentally prepared to shun training and competition for a long time, she replied in negative.
"We will compete definitely. We will prepare a plan how to go about it. We will surely go for competitions."
"We have just one demand that Brij Bhushan should be first arrested and then his interrogation should take place," she said.
(with inputs from PTI)
