Muzaffarnagar: A powerful group of farmers has called a major meeting in the town of Sauram in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district on Thursday, to address the ongoing protests by some of the country’s top wrestlers, who have accused the head of their federation of sexual harassment.
Naresh Tikait, leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) and head of the Balyan Khap, has announced that the wrestling protest will be the central issue discussed during the mahapanchayat at the historic Sauram Chaupal.
The wrestlers, who launched their protest in New Delhi in January this year, are demanding action against Brij Bhushan Singh, President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), who has been accused of sexually harassing female athletes.
In a dramatic turn of events on Tuesday, top wrestlers, including Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Asian Games champion Vinesh Phogat, gathered on the banks of the Ganges River in Haridwar.
They had threatened to throw their World and Olympic medals into the holy river in protest against the inaction towards Mr Singh, a member of parliament from the ruling BJP.
However, Mr Tikait and other Khap and farmer leaders managed to convince them to hold off, promising a resolution within five days.
Mr Tikait, in his message to the media, praised the athletes, saying, “Because of them, we hold our head high in the international sports arena. We will make sure they won’t have to hang their head in shame.”
