NEW DELHI: The farmers are back again. But this time they are not espousing their cause, but the cause of the wrestlers.
Led by some of India’s top wrestlers, including Commonwealth and Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat and Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, players are protesting against the alleged sexual harassment of female wrestlers by federation president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Farmers from various states reached Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, climbing the barricades imposed by Delhi Police, as they extended solidarity with wrestlers on Monday.
Under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha, farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh came to express solidarity with the wrestlers.
Krantikari Kisan Union marched from Sri Bangla Sahib Gurudwara to Jantar Mantar under the leadership of Dr Darshan Pal.
Women farmers from Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), led by Harinder Kaur Bindu and Joginder Singh Ugrahan, also reached Jantar Mantar to support the wrestlers.
Speaking to The New Indian, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, who reached Jantar Mantar and met the wrestlers, said, “We will stand by the wrestlers of our country. The entire farmer unions, all of us are standing together in this issue.”
“Our demand is that even after FIRs, the accused have not been arrested. Why? Are we to believe that the law is not equal for all? He would be safe even after such charges only because he belongs to the ruling party?” he asked.
Ace Indian wrestlers protesting for the arrest of the wrestling body chief over sexual harassment announced their plan to return their medals and awards after clashes with the Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar on Thursday.