As Haryana politicians rush to back agitating wrestlers, BJP leaders break silence

A few days back, BJP leader and former Union minister Birender Singh insisted that “the allegations levelled by the wrestlers are serious in nature”. Ranjit Singh Chautala, an Independent MLA supporting the Manohar Lal Khattar government, added that a person who faces such allegations should not defend himself and rather, should offer his resignation.

Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij has expressed his willingness to mediate, adding “I support the wrestlers.” Vij also said, “I will speak to the high-ups in government, if needed.”

Addressing an event organised by a khap in a Hisar village on Sunday, Hisar BJP MP Brijendra Singh said: “I am the lone BJP MP in the country who has spoken in support of the (agitating) wrestlers. And I know, sometimes, the party doesn’t like such things, because it has its own discipline.”

VIDEO | Members of Kirti Kisan Union join wrestlers’ protest against WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh at Jantar Mantar. pic.twitter.com/GlTNvwlGC7

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 7, 2023

The statements from leaders of the ruling dispensation have come at a time when the agitation by the wrestlers has turned into an emotional issue, especially in rural areas of Haryana, where a large number of youths take to sports. Many believe that since the issue involves the safety and security of the wrestlers, it will have political repercussions if not resolved early.

With a large number of wrestlers coming from the farming community, farmer organisations and khap panchayats have begun actively supporting the agitators. According to sources, these bodies have planned to hit the national highways, if any “atrocity” is committed on the agitating wrestlers in Delhi — referring to the police action on them last week. “This may happen in the same way as when they had blocked the roads and highways at night after police had tried to remove the protesters led by Rakesh Tikait from Delhi’s Ghazipur border in January 2021, at the peak of their agitation against the three farm laws,” said a source.

There are reports that even sportspersons have held meetings in the villages to extend support to the wrestlers. Candlelight marches have taken place at several places, including Jind, Ambala, Hisar and Kaithal.

On Sunday, groups of women from Punjab reached Delhi to extend their support to the wrestlers. On their way, these women — carrying flags of their farmer outfits — criss-crossed Haryana roads, further encouraging those who are backing agitating wrestlers in the state. There are indications of more active participation of farmer bodies from Haryana and Punjab in the near future, which is expected to embolden more dissent and encourage more political leaders to express their support for the protesters.