On Friday, 2nd June, farmers’ leader, Rakesh Tikait, said that the government must arrest former WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and if that does not happen, he will go to Jantar Mantar, on June 9th, to intensify the protests along with the wrestlers, who have accused Singh of sexual assault. He added that they will also hold panchayats across the nation if this demand is not fulfilled.
This announcement was made by Tikait after a khap mahapanchayat was held in Kurukshetra, Haryana, on Friday, just a day after a similar one was held in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar, wherein it was decided that a delegation will meet with President Draupadi Murmu, to seek justice for the protesting wrestlers and demanding action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Tikait has also claimed that the families of the wrestlers have received threats and hence, should be provided with security.
The mahapanchayat on Friday was attended by khap leaders from Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi.
Earlier, Jantar Mantar had been vacated by the Delhi police on the day the new Parliament complex of India was inaugurated, and all the temporary tent-like structures made by the protesting wrestlers were removed. This happened after the wrestlers had tried to forcefully enter the Parliament complex during the inauguration and had clashed with the Delhi police personnel and security forces.
