To mark one month of protest, wrestlers to hold march at India Gate

Wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat said, “We want everyone to join us at India Gate on May 23 and support our movement. We have been sitting here for a month. The deadline for the case has passed… nothing has happened.”

Ahead of the panchayat, the Delhi Police amplified security arrangements at the protest site and around Delhi’s borders. Police had said security checks and vehicle inspections outside the city will be mandatory for anyone entering Delhi Sunday. Police also ramped up security at Jantar Mantar with the help of paramilitary forces. They said multiple layers of barricades were installed and round-the-clock surveillance will be done by senior officers with the help of CCTVs and body cameras.

Farmers and several unions joined the protest Sunday and promised their support.

“We will stay here with the protesters and not leave until the government does something. How can they sit still when our daughters are suffering? It’s been 30 days. An arrest should be made now…,” said Gurkeerat Singh, a member of the Bhartiya Kisan Union.

Another farmer from Haryana, Manu Singh, said, “I have been coming to meet the wrestlers every week now. We see them and feel bad. They are all suffering. We had set a deadline and now it’s passed. Police have to take action or else we will stage protests all around Delhi.”

Protesters said farmer and labour unions and student groups will join them during the march next week.

Kirti Kisan Union member Avtar Singh said, “We attended a meeting with farmer leaders and wrestlers at Rohtak. Around 50 of us will stay here and support our daughters. Brij Bhushan should be arrested or police should tell us their motives. Our daughters are fighting under such harsh weather conditions. Police tried stopping us but we came…”