NEW DELHI: Several farmers’ Union members joined the wrestlers’ protest at Jantar Mantar demanding action against BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations.
Four national women’s organisations have also given a joint call to hold nationwide protests for the immediate arrest of the BJP MP and Haryana minister Sandeep Singh over allegations of sexual harassment.
Further, the 31-member committee, which is advising the wrestlers, said if Singh is not arrested by May 21, it will take a “significant decision,” even as Vinesh Phogat insisted that their protest has not been hijacked by farmers.
Singh, meanwhile, urged the farmer leaders not to make the “mistake” and instead wait for the outcome of the probe. He again claimed he is innocent and alleged that he is being targeted as he has brought reforms in the selection process for wrestlers.
The WFI chief made the remarks in a video posted on social media.
In the 25-minute video posted on Facebook on Saturday night, Singh said, “Chacha-Taau (uncles), I am not saying that you should not come to Delhi. You can come to Delhi and do whatever you want.”
“From the first day I have said that if charges against me are proven, I will hang myself.”
Believe me, if daughters of your village are into wrestling, then ask them when no one is around if the allegations against Singh depict what Singh is. After that, you can do whatever you want. “But, one thing I would say with folded hands is that when the probe is complete, I will come to your khap panchayat. If I am guilty, you can beat me to death with shoes,” he added.
In a statement, the All India Democratic Women’s Association, National Federation of Indian Women, Coordination POW-PMS-IJM All India Mahila Sanskritik Sangathan, and the All India Agragami Mahila Sangathan expressed solidarity with the protesting wrestlers.
“Hundreds of protests will be held in different parts of the country. Women will hold meetings in villages, bastis, and mohallas to expose the ‘anti-women’ face of the BJP. Lakhs of signatures will be collected, which will be sent to the Prime Minister through district collectors,” the statement said.
“The Delhi police has already stepped up security arrangements and vehicles entering Delhi are being checked and pickets increased at Delhi-Ghazipur, Tikri, and Singhu borders. Security forces have been deployed and activities at the protest site are being monitored round the clock through CCTVs to ensure that no untoward incident takes place. Those visiting the protest site are being checked thoroughly as part of precautionary measures,” he said.
Several farm and khap leaders, including BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait, shared the dais.
“We decided that members from every khap will come to the protest site every day. They will stay here during the day and return by the evening,” Tikait said before a huge gathering.
“The wrestlers’ committee will take care of the protest and we will support the wrestlers from outside. We have scheduled a meeting for May 21. If the government does not offer a resolution, we will devise our next strategy,” he added.
The wrestlers, along with hundreds of supporters, carried out a candlelight march in the evening. Slogans of inqilab zindabad reverberated as the wrestlers walked holding each other’s hands. Patriotic songs such as Mera Rang De Basanti Chola were played just before the march started. The SKM has said that during May 11-18, an all-India agitation shall be held in all state capitals, district headquarters, and talukas. Public meetings and protest marches shall be held in support of the agitating wrestlers.
