Khap 'Mahapanchayat' convenes to address wrestler's protest against WFI chief; resolution expected today

A khap 'mahapanchayat' to discuss the ongoing protest by wrestlers against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh began at Soram village here on Thursday, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leaders said.

A 'mahapanchayat' was called by BKU leader Naresh Tikait on Wednesday, a day after he and other farmers' leaders managed to dissuade some of India's top wrestlers from throwing their medals into the Ganges River to protest police inaction against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) in two major cases of sexual harassment.

The "Maha Panchayat" will pass a resolution at the end of the meeting. It is likely to be approved in the evening after khap leaders from all states expressed their views on the issue, the BKU leader said.

Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday said the Center is sensitive to the issue of protesting wrestlers demanding the arrest of outgoing WFI chief Brije Bhushan Sharan Singh on sexual harassment charges. Thakur, who is on a visit to Mumbai, told reporters that the government had accepted the wrestlers' demand to set up a committee to probe their allegations and an investigation was underway.

The Supreme Court has asked the wrestlers to approach the magistrate court, he added. On Wednesday, Thakur asked the protesting wrestlers not to take any action that could undermine the sport or injure the players and said that once the investigation into their allegations is complete, appropriate action will be taken..

The Delhi Police filed two FIRs against Singh. While the first FIR relates to the allegations of a minor wrestler and was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenders (POCSO) Act, the second is related to outrageous modesty.

Singh, who has repeatedly denied all the charges against him, said on Wednesday that he would hang himself if a single charge was proved against him. Later on Thursday, he is expected to hold a press conference in Gonda district to highlight the achievements of nine years of the Modi government.