In massive support from wrestlers, khap leaders set June 9 deadline for Center to arrest WFI chief

New Delhi: In a major boost to the protesting wrestlers, Khap leaders on Friday set a June 9 deadline to arrest Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is accused of sexually harassing some women wrestlers. is charged with. including a minor. Speaking to reporters, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said, “If we are not allowed to sit at Jantar Mantar on June 9, an agitation (stirring) will be announced.” Tikait further warned, “The central government has time till June 9. We will not settle for 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 country.”

Withdraw cases against wrestlers: Khap leader

The khap leaders also demanded that the cases registered against the wrestlers should be withdrawn and the WFI chief should be arrested before June 9. Issue.

Khap leaders announced after the meeting in support of the wrestlers, “If we are not allowed to sit at Jantar Mantar on June 9, we will announce agitation.”

The central government has time till June 9. We will not compromise anything less than the arrest of Brijbhushan Sharan. pic.twitter.com/sR9jS4bjmg– ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2023

Representatives of various Khaps and farmer organizations from different places including Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh reached Jat Dharamshala. Farmers’ organizations on Thursday organized a series of “Khap Mahapanchayat” protests in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab and Haryana to show solidarity with wrestlers who have accused WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually assaulting women wrestlers, including a minor. accused of doing.

Khap mahapanchayats will be held all over India: Tikait

Speaking to reporters ahead of the “mahapanchayat” that began in the afternoon, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said the wrestlers are the pride of the country and they are demanding justice in the matter. Tikait said that many organizations and khaps are holding meetings in other states including Maharashtra and Rajasthan to take action against the injustice being done to the daughters of the country.

He said that the government will have to “bow down” to the legitimate demands of the protesting wrestlers. Tikait said specific allegations have been leveled against the outgoing WFI chief and the police should take immediate action against him.

Tikait said that even the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has condemned the treatment meted out to the protesting wrestlers by the Delhi Police over the weekend and described it as “extremely disturbing”.

The wrestlers were allegedly thrashed by policemen when they attempted to march towards the new Parliament building after its inauguration on Sunday. Tikait said that even though the outgoing WFI chief “is giving different statements, there is no statement from the government on this issue so far”.

Tikait had earlier said that he had plans to hold another “mahapanchayat” in Kurukshetra on Friday to meet President Draupadi Murmu and discuss the next steps in the movement.

Wrestlers changing their demands: WFI chief

Olympic and World Championship medal-winning wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sangeeta Phogat are among those protesting against the outgoing WFI chief, who on Thursday accused him of changing his demands.

At a press conference in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda, Singh said that the wrestlers should wait for the findings of the Delhi Police’s investigation into the allegations against them. The wrestlers left for Haridwar on Tuesday after announcing that they would immerse their medals in the Ganges. He was persuaded by the Khap and farmer leaders not to threaten him. The leaders sought five days time from the wrestlers to redress their grievances.

The Delhi Police has registered two FIRs based on the complaints of the wrestlers. One of them pertains to allegations made by a minor wrestler and has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act.