Wrestlers’ protest: ‘Mahila mahapanchayat’ outside new parliament on 28 May

The day the new parliament building is due to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 28 May, protesting wrestlers will attend a ‘mahila mahapanchayat’ outside the building, reported Hindustan Times on 21 May.

As per the report, the decision was taken at a mahapanchayat called by Maham Chaubisi khap in Haryana’s Maham town in Rohtak district.

Earlier a fortnight ago, the wrestlers had warned the government that if former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was not arrested by 21 May, they will take some 'big decisions'.

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“We had declared that we’ll take some big decisions today if Singh is not arrested in 15 days. It has been decided that a mahila mahapanchayat will be held outside the new parliament building on May 28 and the wrestlers will attend,” HT quoted Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia as saying.

Women from Rohtak, Jhajjar, Narnaul, Faridabad, Rewari, Charkhi Dadri and Gurugram districts of Haryana are likely to form the bulk of the scheduled congregation.

“We urge women from all over India to join us. This is a battle for our daughters. Soon, we’ll take to social media to request women to reach Delhi by next Sunday,” Punia added.

As per details, mahapanchayat was attended by representatives of farmer organisations, women groups, and khaps. Apart from Khap Panchayat leaders, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait also attended the mahapanchayat. “The government will try to raise allegations against the wrestlers, but we are ready for the long fight,” he was quoted as saying.

The khap leaders extended their support to the wrestlers, who had decided to take out a candlelight march to India Gate on May 23 to mark one month of their current protest.

“It is a shame that the women of this country have to sit on pavements to seek justice and yet there is no action from the government. Why is one man (Singh) so important to this government? I feel there are two different laws in this country, one for common citizen and another for powerful people such as Singh,” Punia said.

It is to he known that over the past week, the wrestlers have taken out three marches to various locations in and around Connaught Place besides paying their respects at Rajghat.

Referring to the top wrestlers being denied entry into the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday, Punia said, "Why do we need permission for this? If Delhi Police asks us to get permission, we’ll comply. We didn’t break any rule yesterday either, but were treated like criminals.”

“We were not carrying any posters or banners. We did wear white t-shirts that had a slogan in support of wrestlers printed on it, but we are free to wear what we want. If someone wants to watch a CSK-DC match wearing a Mumbai Indians jersey, will you deny entry to him/her?"

“We don’t have anything against police officials. But the government has left us in the cold. We wrote to all women MPs from the BJP but not one has contacted us. It’s a shame,” said Punia.

The next hearing of the wrestlers' plea in a Delhi magistrate court is on May 27.