Mobilization in Delhi on 7th May
It has been decided in the meeting of Khap Chaudharys at Sarvkhap Headquarters in Muzaffarnagar that all the Khap leaders will reach Jantar Mantar on May 7, Sunday. Representatives of many farmer organizations including Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) will also gather in Delhi on Sunday. It seems that Jantar-Mantar Kisan Andolan is taking the form of Part-2. A day earlier, farmers’ groups from Haryana, who were coming to show solidarity with the protesting wrestlers, were stopped by the police at the Singhu border. The vehicles were stopped at the police station. Officials had said that 24 people were detained. After the ruckus at Jantar Mantar, Delhi Police has increased the number of patrolling and security personnel. Taking lessons from the farmer’s movement, many barriers have been installed in the border areas of Delhi. Although the border has not been closed yet. Police say that strict vigilance is being taken to keep an eye on the movement of the farmers. Police has input that a large number of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are coming to Delhi riding on tractors.
Khap panchayats will gather at Jantar Mantar
The police misbehaved with the wrestlers on strike at Jantar Mantar. A panchayat was immediately convened at Souram, the historic Sarvkhap headquarters, in which Khaps’ representatives took part. It has been unanimously decided to march to Delhi on 7th May.
Naresh Tikait, farmer leader
Dhankhar Khap had already announced
Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait has alleged that the Delhi Police is taking those supporting the wrestlers into custody at the behest of the central government. Even before the hearing of the wrestlers’ petition in the Supreme Court, Om Prakash Dhankhar, head of Dhankhar Khap, had said that despite complaints, the president of the wrestling federation was not arrested. He has said, ‘Dhankhar Khap, Jakhar Khap, Ahlawat Khap, Qadian Khap, Birohar-12, Phogat Khap, Sherawat Khap, Hooda Khap, Rohtak Khap 84, Nandal Khap, Malik Khap and Jhajjar 360 Khap are in support of the wrestlers.. A strategy will be prepared by calling Khap Panchayats of different states in Delhi. That date has been fixed for May 7.
Why does it look like a farmer’s movement?
The performance of the wrestlers is being compared to the farmer’s movement. The biggest reason for this is hidden in this statement of Om Prakash Dhankhar, Chief of Dhankhar Khap. Recently he had said, ‘If the government fails to provide justice to our daughters, we will block highways in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and other parts of the country. This is a fight for the dignity of our daughters, who have brought laurels to the entire nation. The government has failed to act against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who is facing allegations of sexual harassment. BJP talks about saving girls but it is not able to give respect to women wrestlers. She is saving an accused for vote bank. Delhi’s Palam 360 khap chief Surendra Solanki has also said that a meeting of all the khaps of different states will be held in the capital and it will be decided how to proceed further. Leaders of many parties including Congress, Aam Aadmi Party have extended support by meeting wrestlers. In such a situation, the matter does not seem to be calm at the moment.
The khap panchayats will take the decision and the wrestlers will agree
Whatever decision will be taken, our elders, all the khap panchayats have always taken the same decision. Our Khap Panchayats take the first decision from the Supreme Court, from the High Court. Whatever decision she takes, we will follow her.
Vinesh Phogat (before the meeting of Khap Panchayats)