Will wrestlers protest turn into farmers protest with Bajrang Punia's call?

New Delhi: The wrestlers’ protest demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh appeared to be turning into farmers protest after Bajrang Punia called for farmers and their leaders to assemble at the protest site on Thursday morning.

Speaking to media after a scuffle allegedly broke out between the wrestlers staging a protest at Jantar Mantar, the Tokyo Games bronze medallist said, “Delhi Police ki gundagardi ab nahi chalegi (Delhi Police's high-handedness will not work anymore). We will call farmers to assemble here in numbers. We will not tolerate it anymore. Tractors or trolleys. whatever you get, just come here.”

Punia exhorted farmers and members of the public to reach Jantar Mantar in their support.

"I request everyone to reach Delhi by Thursday morning. This is the time. If not, then when? This is a question of dignity of our daughters. People like Brij Bhushan are roaming freely despite being criminals and all this is happening to us," he said.

#WATCH | "We're in need of the support of the whole country, everyone must come to Delhi. Police using force against us, abusing women and doing nothing against Brijbhushan...": Wrestler Bajrang Punia pic.twitter.com/krGrO7HlxM

— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2023

The protesting wrestlers alleged that they were manhandled by the police personnel.

Asked for more details of the late-evening development, Punia said, "CCTV cameras must be there. The footage will make it clear."

The wrestlers have been staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar since April 23. They have levelled allegations of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Uttar Pradesh.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Pranav Tayal said Bharti came to the protest site with folding beds without permission. On being asked about the beds, his supporters became aggressive and tried to get the beds from a truck. Subsequently, a minor altercation took place following which Bharti, along with two others, was detained, the officer added.

Asked specifically if Bharti had brought the folding beds, as being claimed by police, he said, "The CCTV footage will show that he was not there when it happened. We had ordered the beds, we were bringing those inside."

The protesters have been demanding criminal action against Singh for the alleged sexual harassment and intimidation of seven female wrestlers, one of whom is a minor.

The Delhi Police filed two FIRs against the WFI president on Friday on the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by the wrestlers.