As support for protesting wrestlers grows in Punjab, the return of a familiar line of attack: ‘Khalistani’

As the farm unions did during their protest, just over one month into their protest the wrestlers have begun harnessing the support of rural communities in neighbouring states, especially Punjab. In addition to the farmers’ unions, the wrestlers already have the backing of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh and the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC).

Farmers’ unions in Punjab, which are mostly Left-oriented and unsympathetic to the Khalistan cause, were the first to extend support. The unions had arrived in Delhi shortly after the protest began last month. Bharatiya Kisan Union (Dhaner) general secretary Harnek Singh Mehma said, “We will continue supporting the wrestlers until justice is served. It is not surprising that the Prime Minister has not said a word about this issue. The BJP leaders’ attitude towards women can be seen in the way they are handling this matter.”

On Wednesday, wrestler Sakshi Malik met the Akal Takht Jathedar and sought the support of the Sikh community. Malik, accompanied by her husband Satyavrat, visited Takht Damdama Sahib Talwandi Sani and shared pictures of the meeting with the Jathedar on Twitter, saying, “Received the blessings of Shri Akal Takht Sahib’s Jathedar Singh Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh Ji today. The Sikh community has always been at the forefront of fighting for justice for our daughters, and they are still with us in this struggle for women’s respect. Waheguru Ji.”

Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh also released a video with the wrestler, urging everyone to rise above religion, region, and caste differences and attend the wrestlers’ mahapanchayat on Sunday. An SGPC delegation is also scheduled to visit Delhi on May 29 to support the protesters.

Following these expressions of support for the wrestlers, Brij Bhushan moved quickly to allege a connection between the wrestlers and Khalistani sympathisers, using the strategy the BJP adopted when the farmers’ protests began. In November 2020, BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya associated the farmer protesters with Khalistan as soon as they reached the borders of Delhi. The attacks gained momentum following the violence in Delhi on January 26, 2021, when some of the farmer protesters hoisted a Sikh flag at the Red Fort.

Sensing the support for the wrestlers, some of whom were detained for allegedly trying to break police barriers, several farmers’ unions and leaders were stopped from entering Delhi. While BKU Haryana chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni was detained in his home, scores of farmers led by BKU leader Rakesh Tikait were stopped at the Ghazipur border as they tried to enter the national capital. Farmers and farm labourers of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) and Khet Mazdoor Union, who had announced an “Aurat March (Women’s March)” from Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali to Governor’s House in Chandigarh in support of the protesting wrestlers, as well as a group of women farm labourers from the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC), who had left Amritsar for Delhi, were stopped at the Gurdwara Manji Sahib in Ambala.