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On Monday, farmers from the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) allegedly breached barricades in Jantar Mantar while joining the In protest against the President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Brij Bhushan Charan Singh. Delhi Police later issued a statement saying there was no disturbance, and later deployed workers to repair the damaged barricades.
BKU members and other farmers and labor unions joined top wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia on Sunday. They demanded Singh’s immediate arrest and removal/suspending from WFI due to allegations of sexual harassment against him.
Farmers break down a police barricade as they arrive to join protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi, Monday, May 8, 2023 (PTI Photo)
Wrestler Bajrang Puniya during a wrestlers’ protest at Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi, Monday, May 8, 2023 (PTI Photo)
And on Monday, several videos purportedly from the protest site showed farmers jumping and smashing barriers.
With allegations of clashes with police raised, Pranav Tayal, DCP (New Delhi) said, “A group of farmers were escorted to Jantar Mantar. At the entry barriers, they were in a hurry to reach the Dharna site… Some of them climbed the barriers that toppled them and removed them The police team kept the barricades behind to facilitate their entry. The demonstrators reached the site of Al-Dharna…”
Delhi Police spokesman Suman Nalwa said there was no clash and that the police were helping the protesters to reach the protest site safely.
Farmers at Jantar Mantar in support of wrestlers protesting against WFI President Brij Bhushan Charan Singh, in New Delhi, Monday, May 8, 2023 (PTI Photo)
However, the farmers at the site alleged that the police stopped them at the Delhi border as well as in Jantar Mantar.
Harnik Singh, a member of the Fateh Kisan Krantikari Union claimed, “We came from Punjab yesterday and were stopped by the police near the Singhu border. We waited for almost 3-4 hours and struggled to reach here. Around 10-11 am, the police stopped us again… We were roughed up and pushed. They stopped us and said there was nothing and we should go back. We got angry and had no other choice but to push them and jump the barriers.”
Wrestler Bajrang Puniya during a wrestlers’ protest at Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi, Monday, May 8, 2023 (PTI Photo)
Khajan Singh, a member of BKU from Patiala said, “We brought our vehicles but the police did not allow us to enter Jantar Mantar. They told us to leave our vehicles in the streets. There were barricades everywhere and we were very confused. Then a group of young boys pushed the barricades. We said to the police that we needed a space to get in. They let us in later.”
His friend, Avatar, claimed that the police tried to “destroy” their movement but were outnumbered. We are here to protect the pride of our daughters and sons. “We want Singh immediately removed from office and arrested,” Avatar said.
The farmers vowed to continue the sit-in to protest against the wrestlers and fight for justice.
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