Anurag Kumar
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a member of Parliament for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), postponed his “grand rally” scheduled for June 5 in Ayodhya due to increasing calls for his arrest over allegations of sexual harassment of top wrestlers, including at least one minor.
The announcement was made a day after representatives of approximately fifty khaps or clan-based organizations convened in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, in support of the wrestlers. They stated that they will meet with President Droupadi Murmu to urge for action against Singh, despite the Union government’s reiteration that the matter was being handled delicately.
Singh cited the ongoing police investigation against him and Supreme Court directives in a Facebook post announcing the postponement of the “grand rally” scheduled for June 5. Singh was anticipated to share the podium with Ayodhya saints at the rally.
Last week, Ayodhya clerics held a press conference to express their support for Singh and to demand an amendment to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, under which he has been charged. They claimed Singh was being harassed and the POCSO Act was being abused.
Wednesday, Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang Punia, Rio bronze medalist Sakshi Malik, and double World Championship medalist Vinesh Phogat refrained from immersing their medals in the Ganga in protest of Singh.
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The wrestlers collapsed in a huddle on the banks of the Ganges in Haridwar, which was broadcast live on television.
Singh, who led the now-disbanded Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for 12 years, has been charged with two crimes, and the wrestlers have demanded his urgent arrest.
He stated on Wednesday that he would hang himself if even a single accusation against him was proven true.
