- Wednesday, November 27, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
Jantar Mantar, the area in Delhi where some of India’s best-known wrestlers are staging protest against the chief of the country’s wrestling federation over alleged sexual harassment of seven female wrestlers, including a minor, on Monday (8) witnessed dramatic scenes as a group of farmers joined the protesting wrestlers by breaking through barricades.
Visuals emerged from the spot showing the farmers removing and crossing over the barricades erected by the police.
The Delhi Police rejected reports that their officers had a face-off with the farmers and said that they were only helping them to enter, NDTV reported.
VIDEO | Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) workers reach Delhi's Jantar Mantar to join wrestlers' protest against WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. pic.twitter.com/ZRu1CH2Vzj
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 8, 2023
The office of the deputy commissioner of police, New Delhi, said in a tweet, “A group of farmers were escorted to Jantar Mantar. At entry barricades they were in a hurry to reach the dharna site in which some of them climbed the barricades which fell down & were removed by them. Police team kept the barricades at the back aside to facilitate their entry.”
A group of farmers were escorted to Jantar Mantar . At entry barricades they were in a hurry to reach the dharna site in which some of them climbed the barricades which fell down & were removed by them. Police team kept the barricades at the back aside to facilitate their entry. pic.twitter.com/xn39zipp1A
— DCP New Delhi (@DCPNewDelhi) May 8, 2023
Delhi Police’s official handle retweeted the post and urged people not to believe in fake news.
“The protestors at Jantar Mantar are being facilitated. Entry is being regulated through DFMD to ensure safety. Please remain peaceful and abide by the law,” it said.
All are requested not to believe in fake news.
The protestors at Jantar Mantar are being facilitated. Entry is being regulated through DFMD to ensure safety. Please remain peaceful and abide by the law.@ANI @PIB_India https://t.co/Ctha0GjWB5
— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) May 8, 2023
DFMDs are door frame metal detectors that are put up at the entry to Jantar Mantar.
One of the farmers who joined the protesting wrestlers told NDTV that when the police asked them to enter from one side, the barricades overturned as they were in large numbers.
Many farmers were seen seated in front of the protest stage.
Several farmers’ organisations have come out in solidarity with the wrestlers in the ongoing protest. Their representatives under the Samyukt Kisan Morcha umbrella body have been reaching the capital to join the protest which is led by internationally acclaimed wrestlers such as Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Shakshi Malik.
Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, the face of the 16-month farmers’ agitation on Delhi’s borders that forced the Indian government to repeal three farm laws, had earlier announced their plan to support the wrestlers from outside.
The wrestlers, who have been protesting against Wrestling Federation of India president and sitting parliamentarian Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over alleged sexual harassment, reportedly had a scuffle with some policemen last week and they threatened to return their medals and awards.
Phogat said no one has “hijacked” their protest and gave a hint that they might intensify the protest further if Singh is not arrested by May 21, the NDTV report added.
