Representatives of 360 Delhi villages to stand with protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar : AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced that delegates from 360 Delhi villages, including MLAs and councillors will visit Jantar Mantar on Wednesday to express sympathy with the wrestlers holding a demonstration calling for the arrest of the wrestling federation’s leader on sexual harassment charges.

Meanwhile, BJP MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma claimed that the AAP was planning to hijack the wrestlers’ protest.

AAP’s Delhi unit convenor Gopal Rai said that the wrestlers who gave renown to the country had been facing terrible weather conditions.

Wrestlers have been protesting sexual harassment claims against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh, since April 23.

“They sat there in heavy rains on Monday. The prime minister has no time to listen to them. The Supreme Court had to direct that an FIR be registered. Even the sports minister is not ready to hear their pleas,” Rai said.

He accused the BJP of defaming the wrestlers who were protesting.

“They (BJP leaders) are trying to malign the movement. They (wrestlers) were not allowed to put up tents. They were not allowed to install a microphone system. The whole nation is watching. People are supporting them over social media and they are also reaching Jantar Mantar,” Rai said.

“On Wednesday, representatives of 360 villages, including councillors and MLAs, will visit Jantar Mantar at 11 am to support the protesting wrestlers. A strategy for the movement will also be chalked out. The voices of these players will reach every village,” the AAP leader said.

Protesters have called for Singh to be charged with sexual harassment and intimidation of seven female wrestlers, including a minor.