Wrestlers: In a gathering held in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, approximately 50 representatives of the Khap Panchayat members assembled on Thursday to extend their support to the ongoing protest led by India’s top wrestlers. However, tensions escalated and a scuffle broke out among the Khap members during a meeting in Kurukshetra, Haryana, on Friday. A video shared by news agency ANI depicted a heated verbal confrontation, although the exact cause behind the altercation remains unknown at this time.
The meeting in Muzaffarnagar aimed to showcase solidarity with the wrestlers who have been protesting against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), who has been accused of sexually harassing several women grapplers. The Khap members expressed their firm support for the wrestlers’ cause and announced their intention to meet with President Droupadi Murmu, urging her to take appropriate action against Singh. The Union government reaffirmed its commitment to handling the matter sensitively.
Violent Confrontation Breaks Out as Khap Panchayat Members Clash Over Wrestlers’ Protest
Following extensive discussions that lasted nearly three hours, the Khap members disclosed their plans to unveil a series of further decisions during a maha panchayat (grand assembly) scheduled to be held in Haryana on Friday.
Naresh Tikait, the chief of Bharathiya Kisan Union (BKU) who is spearheading the Khap members’ meetings, affirmed their unwavering determination to fight for justice on behalf of the wrestlers. He emphasized that these athletes have brought immense pride to the nation, and their only identity should revolve around the national flag, symbolizing unity. “Now, it is the responsibility of society as a whole to champion their cause,” Tikait declared.
Earlier this week, Tikait successfully persuaded renowned wrestlers such as Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia, who have been engaged in protests since April 23, to postpone the symbolic act of immersing their hard-earned medals in the Ganga River amidst a dramatic turn of events in Haridwar. In response, the wrestlers issued a five-day ultimatum to the authorities, demanding concrete action against the WFI chief.
In a show of solidarity, approximately 50 representatives of the Khap Panchayat members convened in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday to throw their weight behind the ongoing protest led by India’s top wrestlers. However, tensions escalated during a subsequent meeting in Kurukshetra, Haryana, on Friday, as a scuffle broke out among the Khap members. A video footage shared by news agency ANI showcased a heated exchange of words, yet the exact trigger for the confrontation remains undisclosed.
The Muzaffarnagar meeting aimed to lend support to the wrestlers’ ongoing protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), who faces allegations of sexual harassment from several female grapplers. The Khap members unequivocally expressed their backing for the wrestlers’ cause and announced their intent to meet President Droupadi Murmu, urging her to take decisive action against Singh. Meanwhile, the Union government reassured the public of its sensitive handling of the matter.
Clash Erupts Among Khap Panchayat Members Supporting Wrestlers’ Protest: Unsettling Video Footage Surfaces
Following almost three hours of deliberations, the Khap members divulged their plans to unveil a series of additional decisions during an upcoming maha panchayat (grand assembly) scheduled in Haryana on Friday.
Naresh Tikait, the chief of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) who spearheads the Khap members’ meetings, vowed to fight relentlessly until justice is served to the wrestlers. He emphasised that these athletes have brought immense glory to the nation, and their true identity transcends caste divisions, instead aligning solely with the tricolor flag symbolising unity. “Now, it is the collective responsibility of society to champion their cause,” Tikait affirmed.
Earlier this week, Tikait successfully persuaded prominent wrestlers such as Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia—who have been staging protests since April 23—to delay the symbolic act of immersing their hard-earned medals in the Ganga River, amidst a dramatic turn of events in Haridwar. In response, the wrestlers issued a five-day ultimatum to the authorities, demanding concrete action against the WFI chief.
As the news of the clash among Khap Panchayat members reverberated, speculations regarding the cause of the scuffle emerged. While the exact trigger behind the confrontation remains unknown, it underscores the intense emotions and divisions within the Khap community regarding the wrestlers’ protest.