Rakesh Tikait dismisses reports of withdrawing farmers' support to protesting wrestlers
1 min read 07 Jun 2023, 06:57 AM ISTBKU leader Rakesh Tikait clarifies that they have not withdrawn support to protesting wrestlers, but only postponed the June 9 agitation against WFI chief at their request.
PremiumBhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Tuesday clarified that they have not withdrawn their support to the protesting wrestlers and have only postponed the June 9 agitation against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh at the request of grapplers, according to PTI reports.
It was earlier reported that farmer leaders are unhappy with the wrestlers for keeping them in dark about their meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, hence, they have decided to withdraw their support to them.
Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik had met Amit Shah on Saturday night to apprise him of their demands.
Speaking to PTI, Rakesh Tikait said, “Our June 9 demonstration in Delhi remains postponed at the moment. We will wait for the outcome of the meeting between government officials and protesting wrestlers. We (farmers' union) are in support of the wrestlers and will continue with our support to them."
He was then asked if he is aware of the next meeting between protesting wrestlers and the government representatives.
“I do not know when the next meeting is scheduled or if it will even happen," the farmers' leader replied.
Reportedly, the government had shown a willingness to accept most of their demands during the Saturday meeting, but it did not agree to the immediate arrest of the WFI chief, who the wrestlers have accused of sexual harassment.
Hence, the meeting remained inconclusive because the wrestlers remained adamant on their demands regarding the arrest.
“We were aware of the recent meeting and have been in coordination with the wrestlers. We have been asked to hold on any major demonstration," Tikait responded.
Tikait had announced the Delhi 'dharna', demanding the arrest of BJP MP and WFI chief Singh during the Mahapanchayat held in Kurukshetra on Friday. They had threatened to step up the agitation and bring the protesting wrestlers back to Delhi's Jantar Mantar, if the government doesn't act.
The Delhi Police on Tuesday recorded statements of the associates of Singh and those working at his residence in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda as part of the investigation into the allegations against him.
(With PTI inputs)
