Rohtak: A few hours after the Khap Panchayat in Haryana’s Rohtak, the leaders on Sunday announced a candle march at India Gate on May 23, followed by another ‘mahapanchayat’ on May 28. Farmer leaders organized ‘Khap Panchayat’ in support. Wrestlers protesting against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in Delhi.
Rakesh Tikait, farmer leader and national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), said that like the ‘farmer protest’, this protest will also go on for a long time. Talking to reporters, Rakesh Tikait said, ‘The committee has planned to take out a candle march at India Gate on March 3 at 5 pm. There will be another meeting on May 28. I urge more and more people to participate in it.
Tikait said, “Like the farmers’ protest, this (wrestlers’ protest) will also go on for a long time.” Veteran wrestlers including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik protested at Jantar Mantar, accusing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment and demanding his arrest.
The wrestlers marched from Jantar Mantar to Bangla Sahib Gurdwara in New Delhi on May 19, their 25th day of protest against Brij Bhushan. Wrestlers including Punia, Sakshi, Vinesh and others joined the march demanding the arrest of the WFI chief for allegedly sexually harassing athletes. Two separate FIRs were registered on April 28 following the Supreme Court’s notice to the Delhi Police on a petition filed by the wrestlers.
On 24 April, the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) would constitute an ad-hoc committee to conduct the elections to the Executive Committee of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) within 45 days. It was formed to manage the day-to-day affairs of the body, including the selection of athletes and entries for participation of sportspersons in international events. This committee will function for an interim period till the new executive committee takes over.