Samyukta Kisan Morcha to hold nationwide protests in support of wrestlers

After Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) declared that it would hold nationwide protests, including in Delhi, in support of the protesting grapplers, security was increased at Jantar Mantar in the nation’s capital on Sunday.

Since more than ten days, wrestlers have been protesting at Jantar Mantar, calling for the arrest of BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Singh and his removal from office in response to claims of sexual harassment made by the wrestlers.

Several leaders of the organisation from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh will visit the protest site at Jantar Mantar on May 7 and offer support to the protesting wrestlers, according to a statement released by SKM on Saturday.

Notably, SKM was the driving force behind the one-year-long farmer protest against the since-repealed farm laws on the outskirts of the national capital.

Anil Vij, the minister for housing and health in Haryana, offered his support to the wrestlers staging a protest near Jantar Mantar on Friday.

The Haryana Home Minister told ANI that he had nothing but sympathy and support for the wrestlers who were protesting. He even gave the grapplers assurances that he would be willing to act as a mediator and represent them in negotiations with the government.

“This entire matter is now being addressed at the highest level. Since I have also been a sports minister, my sympathies and support are with the protesting wrestlers. If they want me to meditate and talk to the government, I am willing to do so,” Vij said.

Additionally, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur stated on Friday that the Delhi Police were working to meet the demands of the protesting wrestlers and were conducting an impartial investigation against the head of the wrestling federation.