Gonda (UP) | With the Samyukta Kisan Morcha extending support to the wrestlers' protest against him, Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has urged farmer leaders not to make the "mistake" and instead wait for the outcome of the probe into the allegations of sexual harassment made by the grapplers.
Singh, the BJP MP from Kaiserganj, again claimed he was innocent and alleged that he was targeted as he had brought reforms in the selection process for wrestlers.
The WFI chief made the remarks in a video posted on social media after the farmers' collective, Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), on Saturday announced that it will hold nationwide protests in support of grapplers and demanded the immediate arrest of Singh.
A number of SKM leaders and members visited the protest site at Jantar Mantar on Sunday and expressed solidarity with the wrestlers who have been staging a sit-in against Singh since April 23. The Morcha had spearheaded the year-long agitation against the now-repealed farm laws of the Centre.
In a 25-minute video posted on Facebook on Saturday night, Singh said, "Chacha-Taau (uncles), I am not saying that you should not come to Delhi. You can come to Delhi, and do whatever you want.
"From the first day I had said that if charges against me are proven, I will hang myself.
"Believe me, if daughters of your village are into wrestling, then ask them when no one is around if the allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh depict what Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is. After that, you can do whatever you want." Singh, a six-time MP booked by Delhi police for alleged sexual harassment of wrestlers, said, "It should not happen that when the probe report is out after one month, two months or three months, you have to repent.
"But, one thing I would say with folded hands is that when the probe is complete, I will come to your 'khaap' panchayat. If I am guilty, you can beat me to death with shoes." He claimed that wrestlers who are staging a dharna have "nothing more to give (yeh khatm he)".
"I have made rules so that sportspersons from the bottom (layer) will come to the top.... Things went wrong after this," he said.
Singh also said that he had made rules to ensure that every wrestler has to give the trials. "Due to this, their problems have increased," he said on the agitating wrestlers.
The WFI president took potshots at Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, who are leading the protest, over their performance during the trials.
"If there is character assassination of a self-respecting person, then he himself dies, and this is happening today. The ones for whom I have done everything they have put my everything at stake "My elderly from the khap panchayats, I respect you a lot. If these children are committing a mistake, let them do so, my request to the elderly with folded hands is that you should not commit the mistake," he said.
The wrestlers have been staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar demanding action against Singh for the alleged sexual harassment of seven female wrestlers, one of whom is a minor.
On April 28, Delhi Police registered two FIRs in connection with the allegations against the WFI chief.
The SKM has said that during May 11-18, an all-India agitation shall be held in all state capitals, district headquarters and talukas. Public meetings and protest marches shall be held in support of the agitating wrestlers.
New Delhi | 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.
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 dias 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." There has been a heavy deployment of Rapid Action Force (RAF) at the protest site with many khap leaders and farmers joining the aggrieved wrestlers.
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.
The Delhi Police have recorded statements of the seven women complainants under section 161 while the statements under 164 (before a magistrate) under Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) are yet to be recorded.
The wrestlers have accused Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan of sexual exploitation of several women wrestlers over a period of time and have demanded his removal.
Tikait said the tri-colour 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.
"It (Jantar Mantar) will remain the protest site as of now. The protest will gather momentum and spread. We have to be prepared for a long battle," he added.
"This is not a political protest, this is a non-political organisation. But a few politicians have come in support of the wrestlers, cutting across party lines." Sirsa said, "We have also decided that we will force the government to arrest Brij Bhushan. The way farmers had fought their battle (against farm laws), the wrestlers will continue their struggle in the same way." "I request that the government does not test our patience. They had tested us some time back and we had cleared the exam," Sirsa said, referring to the farmers' victory in getting the farm laws repealed.
Vinesh Phogat, the world championship medallist, also hinted that the protest may become bigger if their demands are not met.
"We can take a big call if a resolution does not come by May 21. No one has hijacked our protest, it's just that people have joined us in our fight against injustice. These people respect us and care for our dignity," she said.
"All the women can connect to this battle of ours. The supporters have given us strength. We are ready to fight." Asked if they are mentally prepared to shun training and competition for a long time, she replied in negative.
"We will compete definitely. We will prepare a plan how to go about it. We will surely go for competitions." "We have just one demand that Brij Bhushan should be first arrested and then his interrogation should take place," she said.
