5 min readNew DelhiMay 29, 2023 09:36 AM IST
First published on: May 28, 2023 at 03:01 PM IST
Chaos reigned across Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Sunday as police detained top wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, while they attempted to march towards the new Parliament. The wrestlers have been camping at Jantar Mantar for over a month now in protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Condemning the police action, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said: “Such behavior with our sportspersons who take India’s name to greater heights is very wrong and condemnable.”
The wrestlers, along with prominent khap panchayats from several states, had planned a ‘Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat’ at the new Parliament House building, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. Delhi’s borders saw increased deployment of security personnel, as well as heavy barricading.
Apart from wrestlers and other protesters, farmer leaders in Haryana were detained as well.
Here are the top 5 developments from the wrestlers’ protest today:
1. Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia detained after scuffle between protesters and police at Jantar Mantar
Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia were detained along with other protesters after a scuffle broke out between protestors and police at Jantar Mantar today, ahead of the protesting wrestlers’ ‘Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat’ at the new Parliament House building today.
Punia, in a tweet in Hindi, said: “Does any government treat the champions of their country like this? What crime have we committed?”
2. Nobody was ever stopped from protesting at Jantar Mantar, but illegal activities won’t be appreciated: Police
Commenting on protesters being detained from Jantar Mantar, Dependra Pathak, Special CP (Law and Order) said, “They broke the barricades and didn’t follow the directions given by the police. They broke the law. They were made aware of the Parliament inauguration. They still continued marching towards the Parliament. This is against peace and tranquility of the country. We had to stop them and detain them. We are taking legal action as per procedure. Nobody was ever stopped from protesting at Jantar Mantar but their illegal activities won’t be appreciated.”
Another senior police officer said, “All the wrestlers and protesters have been taken to different police stations in New Delhi and Southeast districts. We had told the protesters that they won’t be allowed to march towards the Parliament but they didn’t listen. There were clashes. They jumped barricades and pushed police personnel on duty.”
3. Farmers and farmer leaders reach Delhi borders, stopped from entering capital amid heightened security
From morning itself, security was increased at Delhi borders, including at Ghazipur, Tikri, Singhu and Ghaziabad, in anticipation of the ‘Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat’.
Farmers who reached the Ghazipur border were prevented from entering the capital to join the panchayat. Prominent farmer leader said, “Today, our protest will end by 3 pm. But, the protest will continue till our daughters get justice and the culprit Brij Bhushan is arrested.”
He added, “Today, we wanted to go to Jantar Mantar and the new Parliament in protest against Brij Bhushan. He has yet not been arrested. strict and immediate action has been taken in such cases earlier, then why Brij Bhushan has not been arrested yet?”
4. Mayor denies Delhi Police to set up ‘temporary jail’ at MCD school in Kanjhawala
Mayor Shelly Oberoi issued an order refusing permission to convert MCD School, Kanjhawala into a ‘temporary jail’, as requested by Delhi Police. The police had sought permission for the same, keeping in view the ‘Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat’ of the wrestlers and their supporters.
Last evening, MCD officials had said that they had granted permission to the police to use the premises as a ‘temporary jail’.
5. Farmers detained in Haryana
Several farmer leaders were detained across Haryana today, ahead of the mahapanchayat in Delhi. Among them were BKU state chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni, who was detained inside his house at 4:45 am.He was released after a dharna by farmers in front of a Kurukshetra police station.
A group of women who were moving to Delhi were detained in Hisar, and the Krantikari Kisan Union activists were stopped at Haryana border while trying to go to Delhi. Farmer leader Azad Singh Palwa was also detained in Jind district.
On Saturday night, the police detained Haryana BKU leader Rakesh Bains from his home. He was later released, but continued to be detained at home.
Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sangita Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia speak with the media at Jantar Mantar. (PTI) 
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