Leaders of different Khaps from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh who held a meeting at Kurukshetra in Haryana on Friday, June 2, in support of the top wrestlers’ protest, gave an ultimatum to government to arrest wrestling federation of India’s (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh by June 9 elsethey would launch a fresh agitation at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. “We have taken a decision that the government must address the grievances of wrestlers and he (Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh) should be arrested. Otherwise, we will go with the wrestlers to Jantar Mantar in Delhi on June 9 and hold panchayats across the nation,” farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, who led the meeting, said. “The cases against the wrestlers should be withdrawn and the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh must happen,” Tikait said.
Khap leaders said that they would wait till June 9 for the government to arrest Singh and that they would also hold talks with the government in the context.
Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait said that the Khaps had taken five days’ time from the wrestlers who felt disappointed because of the inaction of the government on their complaints. Tikait said that the Khap leaders had also sought time from the wrestlers as the government wanted to talk to them (Khaps).
Stating that their agitation would continue peacefully, the Khap leaders would also hold meetings with people across the country to unite the people on the issue.