NEW DELHI: In a giant increase to the wrestlers, the Khap leaders on Friday set a June 9 deadline for the Centre to arrest Wrestling Federation Of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexually harassing feminine grapplers, together with a minor. Speaking to reporters, farmer chief Rakesh Tikait stated, “If we aren’t allowed to sit at Jantar Mantar on June 9 then there will be an announcement of andolan.” Tikait additional warned, “The central government has time till June 9. We will not compromise on anything less than the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. If this does not happen, we will go to Jantar Mantar on June 9 and hold panchayats across the nation.”
The Khap leaders additionally demanded that instances registered in opposition to the wrestlers ought to be withdrawn and the WFI chief should be arrested earlier than June 9. Demanding justice for the wrestlers, a “khap mahapanchayat” was held in Haryana to deliberate on the subsequent steps to be taken within the agitation pertaining to the wrestlers’ problem.
The representatives of varied khaps and farmers’ outfits reached the Jat Dharamshala from totally different locations, together with Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Farmer outfits had held a “khap mahapanchayat” in Uttar Pradesh and a collection of protests in Punjab and Haryana on Thursday, exhibiting solidarity with the wrestlers who’ve accused outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually harassing feminine grapplers, together with a minor.
Talking to reporters right here earlier than the “mahapanchayat” began within the afternoon, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) chief Rakesh Tikait stated the wrestlers are the nation’s satisfaction and all they’re demanding is justice within the case.
Tikait stated many organisations and khaps are holding conferences in different states, together with Maharashtra and Rajasthan, to press for motion in opposition to the “injustice being done to the country’s daughters”.
He stated the federal government should “bow down” in entrance of the real calls for of the protesting wrestlers. Tikait stated particular prices have been levelled in opposition to the outgoing WFI chief and police should take fast motion in opposition to him.
He stated even the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has condemned the style by which the protesting wrestlers have been handled by the Delhi Police over the weekend, describing it as “very disturbing”.
The wrestlers have been allegedly manhandled by police personnel after they tried to march in direction of the brand new Parliament constructing after its inauguration on Sunday. Tikait stated although the outgoing WFI chief “is making different statements, there is no statement from the government’s side yet” on the problem.
Dalbir Singh, a khap chief, stated they demand sturdy motion within the matter, including that “otherwise, our daughters will not be safe”. Tikait had earlier stated that they had a plan to fulfill President Droupadi Murmu and organise one other “mahapanchayat” in Kurukshetra on Friday to debate the subsequent steps within the agitation.
Olympic and World Championship medal-winning wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sangeeta Phogat are amongst these protesting in opposition to the outgoing WFI chief, who accused them on Thursday of adjusting their calls for.
At a press convention in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda, Singh stated the wrestlers ought to watch for the findings of the Delhi Police probe into the allegations in opposition to him. The wrestlers travelled to Haridwar on Tuesday, after asserting that they are going to immerse their medals within the Ganga. They have been persuaded by Khap and farmer leaders to not perform the menace. The leaders sought 5 days’ time from the wrestlers to handle their grievances.
The Delhi Police has filed two FIRs based mostly on the wrestlers’ complaints. One of these pertains to the allegations levelled by a minor wrestler and has been registered underneath the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
