The committee gave a deadline of May 21 for the arrest of Brij Bhushan.
A 31-member advisory committee to the protesting wrestlers on Sunday said they will take some important decisions if Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is not arrested by May 21. Meanwhile, Vinesh Phogat rejected the allegations that the protest has been ‘hijacked’ by the farmers. Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait, ‘Khap Meham 24’ chief Mehar Singh and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) (non-political) Baldev Singh Sirsa joined the wrestlers on stage and addressed the media.
Tikait told the huge crowd gathered here, “Today many leaders of Khap Panchayat and SKM attended the meeting. We decided that members from every khap would come to the dharna site everyday. They will stay here during the day and return by evening. “He said,” The wrestlers’ committee will stage a sit-in and we will support the wrestlers from outside. We have fixed the meeting for 21st May. If the government does not give any proposal, then we will prepare our next strategy. “He said,” If there is any emergency, if the wrestlers face any problem, then the whole country stands with them. The wrestlers took out a candle march with hundreds of supporters.
During this, slogans of Inquilab Zindabad were echoing and the wrestlers were walking holding each other’s hands. Patriotic songs like ‘Mera Rang De Basanti Chola’ were played just before the march started. A large number of security personnel were deployed at the protest site in view of the huge crowd. In this, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and women security forces have also been deployed in large numbers. Hundreds of turbaned farmers wearing dhoti-kurta were seen at the protest site during the discussion on the next step by the wrestlers in the ‘Mahapanchayat’ on Sunday. The scene was similar to that of the farmers’ protest, which lasted for 13 months.
The Delhi Police has recorded the statements of seven women complainants under section 161, while the statements are yet to be recorded under section 164 (before a magistrate) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan has accused several women wrestlers of sexual harassment and demanded his removal. Tikait said that the tricolor has been insulted and it will not be tolerated. “We will help the wrestlers in every possible way,” he added.
He said that this protest would go on for a long time and it could spread across the country. “It (Jantar Mantar) will continue to be a protest site for now. We have to be ready for a long fight and this protest will increase. “Tikait said,” This is not a political protest, it is a non-political organization. But some politicians crossing the party line have come in support of these wrestlers. “Sirsa said,” We have also decided that we will force the government to arrest Brij Bhushan. The way the farmers fought their battle (against the agricultural laws), the wrestlers will continue their struggle.
Referring to the victory of the farmers in repealing the agricultural laws, Sirsa said, “I request the government not to test our patience.” They had taken our test some time back and we passed the test.” World championship medalist Vinesh Phogat also hinted that the protest could get bigger if their demands are not met. He said, “If there is no proposal from the government till May 21, then we can take a big decision. No one has ‘hijacked’ our protest. People are with us only in our fight against injustice. These people respect us and care about our dignity.
Asked if he is mentally prepared to be away from training and competing for a long time, he replied in the negative, “We will definitely compete. We will make a plan about it. We will definitely go for the competitions. “He said,” Our only demand is that first Brij Bhushan should be arrested and then he should be interrogated.
