New Delhi: Ahead of joining the protesters at Jantar Mantar today, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said that the protesting wrestlers have the full support of farmers and demanded the immediate arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
“They (protesting wrestlers) have our full support. We will decide today (on future course of action). Arrest (of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh) must be done when FIR has been registered,” farmer leader Rakesh Tikait told PTI as he was leaving for Jantar Mantar to join the wrestlers’ protest.
VIDEO | “They (protesting wrestlers) have our full support. We will decide today (on future course of action). Arrest (of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh) must be done when FIR has been registered,” says farmer leader Rakesh Tikait as he leaves for Jantar Mantar to join wrestlers’… pic.twitter.com/lIu8VYc6oS
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 7, 2023
This comes as wrestlers continue their agitation demanding Singh’s arrest and sacking from the post of top wrestling body in India.
Khap president Palam Chaudhary Surender Solanki told PTI, “The protest will continue till these kids (protesting wrestlers) get justice but how we take it forward, that will be decided by all of us today.”
VIDEO | “The protest will continue till these kids (protesting wrestlers) get justice but how we take it forward, that will be decided by all of us today,” says Chaudhary Surender Solanki, Khap president Palam, on mahapanchayat at Jantar Mantar today. pic.twitter.com/D4AurXXNP8
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 7, 2023
On Saturday, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) in a statement said that several leaders of the organisation from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh will visit the protest site at Jantar Mantar and extend support to the protesting wrestlers.
The outfit also reiterated its demand for Singh’s arrest. The SKM (non-political), a breakaway group of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha that spearheaded the year-long agitation against the now-repealed farm laws of the Centre, said farmers’ organisations associated with it also unanimously passed a resolution demanding the arrest of the WFI chief during a virtual meeting.
Earlier on Friday, Haryana Home and Health Minister Anil Vij extended his support to the protesting wrestlers near Jantar Mantar.
Speaking to ANI, the Haryana Home minister said he had complete sympathy and support for the protesting wrestlers.
He even assured the grapplers that he was willing to mediate and hold talks with the government on their behalf. “This entire matter is now being addressed at the highest level. Since I have also been a sports minister, my sympathies and support are with the protesting wrestlers. If they want me to meditate and talk to the government, I am willing to do so,” Vij said.
Delhi Police filed two FIRs on April 28 following the notice by the Supreme Court.
The wrestlers have been staging a sit-in demonstration at Jantar Mantar since April 23. They have levelled allegations of sexual harassment against Singh, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Uttar Pradesh.