Farmers Join Wrestlers’ Protest In Delhi

OB Bureau

May 8, 2023 3:22 pm

New Delhi: There was drama and chaos at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Monday morning as a group of farmers broke through barricades to join the wrestlers’ protest over sexual harassment allegations against the national wrestling federation chief. Visuals from the spot showed farmers crossing over and removing barricades put up by the police near the wrestlers’ protest site.

However, Delhi Police trashed reports of a face-off between the farmers and cops and said they were only facilitating the entry of farmers, NDTV reported.

“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,” the office of Deputy Commissioner Of Police, New Delhi, tweeted.

Delhi Police’s official handle retweeted the post and asked 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. DFMD refers to metal detectors put up at the entry to Jantar Mantar, the designated protest site in the national capital.

Several farmers’ organisations have announced support for the wrestlers in their ongoing protest. Members of farmer organisations under the umbrella body Samyukt Kisan Morcha have been reaching Delhi to join the wrestlers’ protest.

Meanwhile, Olympian Vinesh Phogat has stressed that no one has “hijacked” their protest and hinted that they may further intensify the protest if Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, BJP MP and president of the Wrestling Federation of India is not arrested by May 21.