The 31-member committee that is advising the protesting wrestlers on Sunday said if WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan 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, and Brij in turn asked them to prove allegations of sexual harassment.
Amid heavy security deployment, the representatives from various “Khaps” in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and trade unions gathered at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Sunday to extend their support to women wrestlers protesting there.
Four women’s organizations also backed the grapplers and in a statement, the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), Coordination POW-PMS-IJM All India Mahila Sanskritik Sanghatan (AIMSS), and the All India Agragami Mahila Sanghatan (AIAMS) said hundreds of protests will be held in different parts of the country. Women will hold meetings in villages, bastis and mohallahs to expose the ‘anti-women’ face of the BJP.
Meanwhile, in a video statement, WFI chief said he will hang himself even if a single allegation of sexual harassment is proved. He said he cannot openly discuss all issues since the matter is being probed by the Delhi Police and dared the aggrieved wrestlers to produce evidence corroborating the allegations.
The turbaned farmers, clad in dhoti-kurtas, and numbering in hundreds were seen at the protest site on Sunday as a "Mahapanchayat" discussed the next move on behalf of the wrestlers. The scenes were similar to the farmers' protest that continued for 13 months until the Government repealed the law.
Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait, Khap Maham 24 chief Mehar Singh and Sankyut Kisna Morcha's (non-political) Baldev Singh Sirsa joined the wrestlers on the stage and addressed the media. "Many leaders from Khap panchayat and SKM attended the meeting today. 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. "If any emergency arises, if the wrestlers face any problem, the entire nation stands behind them."
Tikait slammed the Modi Government saying, "Has the Delhi Police not arrested anyone in similar instances in the past? If not, don't arrest him. Else take action. Wrestlers have asked us to extend similar support, and volunteer deployment for peaceful agitation," he told AajTak. "Desh ka maan badhane walon ko begana mehsoos karaya jaa raha (the ones who did the nation proud are left to feel neglected today)."
Tikait said the Tricolour has been shamed and it will not be tolerated. "We will help the wrestlers in every possible manner," he said, adding that it will be a long haul and it may spread to the entire country.
Ahead of the Khap mahapanchayat at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Sunday, the Delhi Police increased deployment and strengthened surveillance teams and checking points for the protest. The police said security has been beefed up near the Singhu border and all vehicles are being stopped and checked.
More than 2000 personnel from CRPF, Rapid Action Force and other paramilitary forces have also been deployed. One side of the protest area has been sealed with three to five layers of barricades. The police said the other side has been "extended" to give space to protesters.
In a statement, the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), Coordination POW-PMS-IJM All India Mahila Sanskritik Sanghatan (AIMSS), and the All India Agragami Mahila Sanghatan (AIAMS), 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 mohallahs 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.