A significant gathering of farmers has been organised for Thursday in the town of Sauram in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district to address the recent protests by some of the top wrestlers in the country who have accused the head of their federation of sexual harassment.
The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) and Balyan Khap leader Naresh Tikait have said that the wrestling protest will be the main topic of discussion during the mahapanchayat at the historic Sauram Chaupal.
The wrestlers, who started their protest in New Delhi in January of this year, want the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to take action against Brij Bhushan Singh, who has been accused of harassing female athletes sexually.
Top wrestlers, including Olympic medalists Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Asian Games winner Vinesh Phogat, congregated on the banks of the Ganges River in Haridwar on Tuesday in a stunning turn of events.
They had threatened to throw their Olympic and World medals into the sacred river in protest at the BJP’s Member of Parliament, Mr Singh’s treatment.
By promising a solution in five days, Mr Tikait and other Khap and farmer leaders were able to persuade them to wait.
Mr Tikait, in his message to the media, praised the athletes, saying, “Because of them, we hold our heads high in the international sports arena.
Different khaps and their heads from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Delhi are expected to be present in the Mahapanchayat to decide the next step regarding the wrestlers protest.