Farmer leaders, aiding wrestlers against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, have given a ultimatum to the Centre to either arrest him or face more widespread protests.
"We have taken a decision that the government must address the grievances of wrestlers and he (Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh) should be arrested. Otherwise, we will go with the wrestlers to Jantar Mantar in Delhi on June 9 and hold panchayats across the nation," farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said, reports PTI.
"The cases against the wrestlers should be withdrawn and the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh must happen," Tikait added.
The wrestlers have alleged Singh misused his position as the WFI head to sexually harass athletes.
Farmer groups held a "khap mahapanchayat" in Uttar Pradesh and a series of protests in Punjab and Haryana in solidarity with the wrestlers, reports NDTV.
However, in Haryana's Kurukshetra, before talking to media on the panchayat's final decision, a scuffle broke out between the members of Khap panchayat during their meeting in support of wrestlers' protest.
Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said at Times Network's India Economic Conclave on Thursday: "The government favours an unbiased investigation... All of us want justice to be delivered, but it will happen after following the due process."
Top wrestlers including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sangeeta Phogat have been protesting against the outgoing WFI chief.
Following a notice by the Supreme Court, two police cases were registered against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on 29 April. One was registered under POSCO in the matter of sexual harassment with a minor girl, while another FIR was registered for sexual harassment with other complainants.
The Delhi Police formed a Special Investigation Team to investigate the matter and had submitted a status report to the court.
On Wednesday, the Delhi Police said that it will be filling its final report on the matter within 15 days. Subsequent to which further course of action would be taken by the relevant court.
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