Khap leaders, farmer unions join hands with protesting wrestlers, set May 21 deadline for progress in case against Brij Bhushan

“There was a big meeting today attended by many Khap panchayats and members of the SKU. We have decided that people from every khap will be here every day,” Tikait said. “If by May 21, the government doesn’t communicate with us and hold discussions, and there is no resolution, we will make our next strategy.”

He also confirmed that the protests will be handled by the wrestlers’ nine-member advisory committee and they will be supporting it from the outside with anything they need, adding that the Tricolour of India had been “put to shame”.

“The wrestlers’ protest will be much like the way the farmers fought their battle (against the now-repealed farm laws). This fight is going to be a long one. Everyone must be prepared for that,” he said.

Heavy farmer presence

The agitation against Brijbhushan, against whom the wrestlers have levelled allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation, are now into its third week, but after a few days of stalled momentum, there was a new complexion to the protests on Sunday.

A ‘Mahapanchayat’ of several khap leaders held a meeting and debated the next decision on behalf of the wrestlers, and brought with them hundreds of farmers in support, who – unmissable in their turbans and all-white outfits – made up a large majority of those present at the site.

Given the large numbers, the protesters had made adequate arrangements in terms of seating, sound and microphone equipment as well as food and water. The security arrangement was equal to it. Delhi Police had barricaded the area from all sides since their scuffle with the protesters on Wednesday, and the heavy police presence persisted, this time also assisted by a heavy deployment of Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel to deal with the large gathering.

Yudhvir Singh, general secretary of the BKU, said that once the larger union took the call of assembling at Jantar Mantar, the various khaps mobilised support and made arrangements to come to New Delhi themselves.

“Our job is to maintain a high number of supporters,” he said. “This is now a people’s movement. Whoever you are seeing here, we have managed about 1,000 people to come together, is coming from areas all across Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.”

He reiterated that the plan was for supporters to show up every day from now. “We will make sure 20-25 people from each district are here daily.”

‘Protests not hijacked’

To those not in the know, a visit to Jantar Mantar on Sunday would give more of an impression of a farmers movement rather than a protest over allegations of sexual harassment. But Vinesh maintained that their agitation has not been ‘hijacked’, neither by farmers nor political parties.

“Nobody has hijacked our protest. All these people are doing is showing us support, and we are getting strength through their support. This is simply a fight against injustice. All women in the country can connect to this,” she said in the press conference.

Vinesh flagged that while the Delhi Police have recorded statements of the complainants under Section 161 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), they are yet to record statements in relation to the allegations under Section 164. “Our only demand is that Brijbhushan be arrested and an interrogation takes place.”

The former World No.1 also revealed that the protesting wrestlers are planning to find a way to train and be fit for competitions in the near future.