'Wait For Probe Outcome': WFI Chief To Khap Leaders Supporting Wrestlers After May 21 Deadline For His Arrest

With Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) extending support to wrestlers' protest, WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh has put out a video message appealing them to 'wait for probe results' into the matter.

Amid the ongoing protest by the wrestlers at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and Samyukta Kisan Morcha extending support to them, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief has come out with an appeal to the farmer leaders. Singh urged the farmer leaders not to make the "mistake" and wait for the probe results to come out before joining the protest. Singh uploaded a 25-minute-long video on his Facebook on Saturday sharing his thoughts on the matter. 

In the video message, the BJP MP from Kaiserganj reiterated that he was innocent the sexual harassment allegations against him are false. He claimed that he was being targeted for the reforms he brought in the selection process of wrestlers. 

The WFI chief posted the video on May 6 after Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) announced holding a nationwide protest on Sunday (May 7) to support the grapplers. 

A number of SKM leaders and members visited the protest site at Jantar Mantar on Sunday expressing solidarity with the wrestlers. Notably, the Morcha had spearheaded the year-long agitation against the now-repealed farm laws of the Centre. 

 

What Brij Bhushan Said In Video 

In the video, Singh said, "Chacha-Taau (uncles), I am not saying that you should not come to Delhi. You can come to Delhi, and do whatever you want. From the first day I had said that if charges against me are proven, I will hang myself." 

"Believe me, if daughters of your village are into wrestling, then ask them when no one is around if the allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh depict what Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is. After that, you can do whatever you want," he added.  

Singh said, "It should not happen that when the probe report is out after one month, two months or three months, you have to repent." 

"But, one thing I would say with folded hands is that when the probe is complete, I will come to your 'khaap' panchayat. If I am guilty, you can beat me to death with shoes." He went on to claim that wrestlers who are agitating against him have "nothing more to give (yeh khatm he)". 

"I have made rules so that sportspersons from the bottom (layer) will come to the top.... Things went wrong after this," he added. 

Singh further said that he had made rules to ensure that every wrestler has to give the trials. "Due to this, their problems have increased," he said on the ongoing protest. 

He also took potshots at Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, who are leading the protest, over their performance during the trials., reported PTI. 

"If there is character assassination of a self-respecting person, then he himself dies, and this is happening today. The ones for whom I have done everything they have put my everything at stake. My elderly from the khap panchayats, I respect you a lot. If these children are committing a mistake, let them do so, my request to the elderly with folded hands is that you should not commit the mistake," he said. 

Protesters' Panel Gives May 21 Deadline For Singh's Arrest

Meanwhile, the 31-member committee that is advising the protesting wrestlers on Sunday said if Brij Bhushan Singh is not arrested by May 21, it will take a "significant decision", reported PTI. This comes even as Vinesh Phogat insisted that their protest has not been hijacked by farmers. 

Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait, Khap Maham 24 chief Mehar Singh and Samkyut Kisna Morcha's (non-political) Baldev Singh Sirsa joined the wrestlers on the dias and addressed the media. 

"Many leaders from Khap panchayat and SKM attended the meeting today. We decided that members from every khap will come to the protest site every day. They will stay here during the day and return by the evening," Tikait said before a huge gathering, as quoted by PTI. 

"The wrestlers' committee will take care of the protest and we will support the wrestlers from outside. We have scheduled a meeting for May 21. If the government does not offer a resolution, we will devise our next strategy," he added. 

The wrestlers resumed their sit-in protest on April 23 at Jantar Mantar demanding action against Singh for the alleged sexual harassment of seven female wrestlers, one of whom is a minor. 

On April 28, Delhi Police registered two FIRs in connection with the allegations against the WFI chief after Supreme Court’s order. 

According to a PTI report, the SKM has said that during May 11-18, an all-India agitation shall be held in all state capitals, district headquarters and talukas.