Wrestler Vinesh Phogat (second from left) with Delhi Minister Gopal Rai at the protest site at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Wednesday. , Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
Representatives of 360 villages of Delhi, along with ministers Gopal Rai and Saurabh Bhardwaj, reached Jantar Mantar on Wednesday to support the wrestlers protesting against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Mr. Rai said mahapanchayat Will be done at the picket site on Sunday. , Panchayats Will be organized in all the villages of Delhi on 4th, 5th and 6th May to raise awareness about the plight of the wrestlers. These Panchayats will end in a mahapanchayatTo demand justice for the wrestlers and their supporters.
The protesters are demanding the resignation and arrest of Mr. Singh, accused of sexually harassing several female wrestlers. Police have registered two FIRs in the matter, but no arrests have been made so far.
The AAP minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not even get time to talk to the wrestlers, who had won medals for the country in the Olympics, and are sitting on a dharna for 10 days regardless of heat or rain.
Mr. Rai also hit out at West Delhi BJP MP Parvesh Sahib Singh, who alleged that the AAP wanted to hijack the struggle of the wrestlers. He said that the protest is against the country and not against any party or organisation. “I would like to challenge [the BJP] And ask them to come here with me on 7th May and support our players, if they are concerned about the dignity of their sisters and daughters. If the government does not discuss the demands of the players in a responsible manner, then mahapanchayat Will announce the next action plan of the movement.
Mr. Bhardwaj said that WFI is supposed to protect the wrestlers and no family will accept it if the people running it instead start harming them. “Our daughters have been forced to take shelter in tents by the BJP MP for their rights. We will remain here till the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
There was a surge in support for the wrestlers in Delhi University’s North Campus with protests by several student organizations, as well as in other parts of the city. In a statement, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) said, “We are here today to announce to the nation that people stand in solidarity with our wrestlers and we will fight with them till justice is served.”
picket site evacuated
However, the Delhi Police forced the students to vacate the protest site outside the DU Arts Faculty and detained around 30 protesters. It said that he had not sought permission for the movement.