The Samyukta Kisan Morcha announced that leaders from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh, with hundreds of farmers, will hold nationwide protests to extend the fullest support to the protesting wrestlers.
Security measures have been tightened at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar as well as on the borders of the capital city as khap panchayat leaders today march towards the protest site where Olympians and award-winning wrestlers are on a strike against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations.
Two groups of farmer organisations are visiting Jantar Mantar on Sunday and Monday where the wrestlers are protesting, Delhi Police said.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha announced that leaders from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh, with hundreds of farmers, will hold nationwide protests to extend the fullest support to the protesting wrestlers. The outfit also demanded the immediate arrest of the WFI president.
"Our protest (to support wrestlers) is for one day (today). If the government doesn't find a solution, we will think about what to do next," a farmer leader told PTI while entering Delhi to visit the protest site.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political), a breakaway group of SKM, also announced that a large number of farmers will gather at the Jantar Mantar here on May 8.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made near Jantar Mantar for the delegation's visit, officials told PTI, while barricades were put in place and police are maintaining a tight vigil on the city's bordering areas.
According to reports, SKM leaders are also expected to lead a delegation to the Delhi Police Commissioner, Union sports minister and Union home minister, demanding Brij Bhushan Singh's arrest
Additional deployment will be made, especially in the bordering areas, and patrolling enhanced, the police said.
Top wrestlers of the country, including Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat, have been protesting at the Jantar Mantar since April 23, demanding the sacking of Brij Bhushan as WFI chief and his arrest in view of sexual harassment allegations made by several women grapplers.
Vinesh Phogat urged the supporters to be peaceful on Sunday so that bad elements do not hijack the protest. "Tomorrow, a lot of people are expected to join us from villages... khap panchayats, kisan and mazdoor unions, student organisations to support us. We appeal to everyone to be peaceful. Our success depends on a peaceful demonstration. We also request all who will come tomorrow to cooperate with authorities and police," said the Asian Games gold medallist. She also urged the Delhi Police to not halt the supporters.
The protesters have demanded that the government makes public the findings of an oversight panel that investigated the sexual harassment charges against Singh. On April 28, the Delhi Police registered two FIRs in connection with the allegations. However, the WFI chief has not been served a notice yet as per the available information.