Amidst the ongoing protests by wrestlers against federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, former wrestler and Dronacharya Awardee Mahavir Phogat made a bold statement, drawing a parallel between the people of the country and their fight for independence against the British. Phogat expressed confidence that the current government would be ousted, just as the British were, by the collective will of the people.
Public wont accept lack of action
“The condition of the daughters cannot be seen. The people of the country will drive away the government like they did the British,” Mahavir Phogat said. He was speaking at his village, Balali, in Haryana.
In reference to the wrestlers' protests against federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, former wrestler and Dronacharya Awardee Mahavir Phogat spoke about the support they have received from farmer leader Rakesh Tikait and other farmers' leaders. Phogat expressed gratitude for the understanding shown by the farmer leaders towards the wrestlers' sentiments and confidently stated that this support would lead to a nationwide movement of great magnitude.
Movement will soon get bigger
Phogat further emphasised that this movement would encompass various segments of society, ranging from village panchayats to Khaps (traditional social institutions) and other farmer and social organisations. The unity and collective strength of the entire country will be witnessed in this decisive movement.
“I made my daughters worthy of medals by risking everything. Today their condition cannot be seen. Sadly, the players had to take the decision to throw their medals into the Ganga. Farmer leaders understood their sentiments and now the whole country will unite in such a way that the government will have to bow down. If the government does not take initiative in this matter, then the people of the country will drive it away like they did the British,” Mahavir Phogat said.
Khap Panchayat vow to meet President
The Khap Panchayats of the Jat community in Western Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have come forward to support the wrestlers' cause. The chiefs of the Khap Panchayats will meet with President Droupadi Murmu to raise the demands of the protesting wrestlers. They will also discuss their future course of action during the upcoming Maha Panchayat in Kurukshetra, Haryana on Friday.
In addition to this, the Khap chiefs have decided to meet with the Saints & Seers of Ayodhya, who have been supporting former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chairman, Brij Bhushan Saran Singh. A significant Khaap Panchayat of the Jat community was held at Shoram village in Muzaffarnagar on Thursday. During the Panchayat, the chiefs of various Khaap sects of the Jat community announced their support for the protesting wrestlers. They pledged to fight for the honor of the daughters of the country. Naresh Tikait, the president of Bhartiya Kisan Union, stated that women wrestlers have accused the former WFI of sexual harassment, but the government is not taking any action.
Tikait further mentioned that his community is willing to compromise with the government if Brij Bhushan Saran Singh is arrested. The strategy for the future will be decided at the Maha Panchayat in Kurukshetra on Friday.
The Maha Panchayat in Shoram, Muzaffarnagar was called by Naresh Tikait, who is also the Chief of Baliyan Khap of the Jat community. Chiefs from 36 Khaps of the Jat community were present at the Maha Panchayat and expressed their dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the WFI issue. On Wednesday, wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat had gone to Haridwar to immerse their medals in the Ganga River. However, Naresh Tikait chose not to do so, and the wrestlers handed over their medals to him. Recognizing the wrestlers' frustration, the Maha Panchayat was called to make a decisive decision regarding this issue. The Panchayat in Shoram discussed the matter and decided to take a final decision after the upcoming gathering in Kurukshetra on Friday.
