Wrestlers protest Highlights: Protesting wrestlers hold a candlelight march at Jantar Mantar in Delhi

Some of India's top wrestlers are protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar over sexual harassment allegations against WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and others participate in a candle march during their protest at Jantar Mantar (PTI)

Security has been beefed up at Delhi's Jantar Mantar amid farmers and Samyukta Kisan Morcha's planned nationwide protests in support of the protesting grapplers. Several leaders of the SKM from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh are expected to visit the protest site at Jantar Mantar....Read More

Follow all the updates here:

• 7 May 2023, 09:41:44 PM IST

  Visuals from the candlelight march taken out by protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar

  

  Wrestlers light candles during their protest at Jantar Mantar. (PTI)

• 7 May 2023, 08:26:21 PM IST

  Protesting wrestlers hold a candlelight march at Jantar Mantar in Delhi

  The wrestlers are demanding action against WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment.

• 7 May 2023, 07:52:18 PM IST

  "Big call will be taken if...": Vinesh Phogat's big statement on wrestlers' protest

  World Championships and Commonwealth Games medalist Vinesh Phogat said on Sunday that a "big call" will be taken by the protesting wrestlers if the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh is not arrested by May 21.

• 7 May 2023, 06:24:35 PM IST

  4 Left women’s associations give call for nationwide protests in support of wrestlers

  Four national Left-wing women’s organisations have given a joint call to hold nationwide protests for the immediate arrest of BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Haryana minister Sandeep Singh over allegations of sexual harassment made by wrestlers.

  In a statement, the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), Coordination POW-PMS-IJM All India Mahila Sanskritik Sanghatan (AIMSS), and the All India Agragami Mahila Sanghatan (AIAMS), expressed solidarity with the protesting wrestlers.

  "Hundreds of protests will be held in different parts of the country. Women will hold meetings in villages, bastis and mohallahs to expose the ‘anti-women’ face of the BJP. Lakhs of signatures will be collected which will be sent to the prime minister through district collectors," the statement said.

  (PTI)

• 7 May 2023, 06:22:53 PM IST

  Wrestlers' protest: Over 2000 police personnel deployed in Delhi amid farmers' march to Jantar Mantar

  Amid the farmers' march to Jantar Mantar in support of the protesting grapplers in the national capital, over 2,000 jawans have been deployed on Sunday.

  The wrestlers have been protesting near the Jantar Mantar for over 10 days demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh and his sacking from the post in the light of allegations of sexual harassment by woman grapplers.

  According to Delhi Police, people coming from outside in support of wrestlers are allowed to enter the national capital in their private vehicles and buses but not by tractor trolleys.

  Meanwhile, at the Singhu border, paramilitary force has been deployed and 300 Delhi Police personnel were stationed in the outer North zone, police said.

  (ANI)

• 7 May 2023, 06:22:27 PM IST

  "This is the fight for country's dignity": Bajrang Punia

  With farmers marching into the national capital from various states to show solidarity with protesting wrestlers in the national capital, star grappler and Olympian Bajrang Punia on Sunday said theirs was a fight for the "country's dignity".

  Speaking to ANI at the protest site near the iconic Jantar Mantar, Punia said, "We will protest as long as we don't get justice. This is the fight for the respect and dignity of our country's daughters and mothers and also for the dignity of the country."

  "We are thankful to people who are coming here to extend their support. To those who are coming here to express solidarity with us, I would say please ensure peace," Punia said.

  (ANI)

• 7 May 2023, 05:19:43 PM IST

  Wrestlers address press conference with farmers at Jantar Mantar

  

  Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik address a press conference at Jantar Mantar. 

• 7 May 2023, 04:37:08 PM IST

  Women in Meerut march in solidarity with the wrestlers' protest

• 7 May 2023, 03:41:17 PM IST

  Wrestlers with farmers supporting the protests at Jantar Mantar

  

  New Delhi: Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik with supporters during their protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, Sunday, May 7, 2023. (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary)(PTI05_07_2023_000124B) (PTI)

• 7 May 2023, 02:54:48 PM IST

  Visuals from protesting site at Jantar Mantar

  

  Wrestler Bajrang Punia with farmers during the latter's demonstration in support of the wrestlers protesting against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. (PTI)

• 7 May 2023, 02:24:43 PM IST

  Rakesh Tikait hits out at the Modi government on wrestlers' protest

  "Why would we not attack the Modi government? Should we criticise Rahul Gandhi over this (sexual assault and intimidation allegations against WFI chief) issue?" Rakesh Tikait said.

• 7 May 2023, 01:09:33 PM IST

  'Take out a candle march across the country': Bajrang Punia

  “Take out a candle march in the whole country today at 7 o'clock in the evening, there is an appeal to the entire countrymen that in this fight for the justice of our daughters of India, they will,” tweets wrestler Bajrang Punia. 

   

• 7 May 2023, 11:55:16 AM IST

  Heavy traffic jam at Delhi-UP border as farmers begin to arrive

  A heavy traffic jam was reportedly seen at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border as groups of farmers arrived at Jantar Mantar to support protesting wrestlers.

• 7 May 2023, 11:47:32 AM IST

  ‘Protest will continue till wrestlers get justice’: Khap president Palam

  "The protest will continue till these kids (protesting wrestlers) get justice but how we take it forward, that will be decided by all of us today," says Chaudhary Surender Solanki, Khap president Palam, on mahapanchayat at Jantar Mantar today.

• 7 May 2023, 11:16:31 AM IST

  ‘Wrestlers have our full support’: farmer leader Rakesh Tikait

  "They (protesting wrestlers) have our full support. We will decide today (on future course of action). Arrest (of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh) must be done when FIR has been registered," says farmer leader Rakesh Tikait as he leaves for Jantar Mantar to join wrestlers' protest.

• 7 May 2023, 11:14:16 AM IST

  ‘Will hang myself if allegations proved’: WFI chief Brij Bhushan

  "I will hang myself even if a single allegation against me is proved," says WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on sexual harassment charges levelled against him by protesting wrestlers.

• 7 May 2023, 11:00:10 AM IST

  Members of Kirti Kisan Union join wrestlers' protest

  Members of Kirti Kisan Union join wrestlers' protest against WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh at Jantar Mantar.

   

• 7 May 2023, 10:36:10 AM IST

  Security increased at the Delhi-Ghazipur border

  Security increased at the Delhi-Ghazipur border as farmers likely to march towards Jantar Mantar to join wrestlers' protest.

   

• 7 May 2023, 10:10:43 AM IST

  Wrestlers protest: Group of farmers stopped at Tikri border

  A group of farmers trying to enter Delhi to join the wrestlers' protest at Jantar Mantar was stopped by police at Tikri Border.

  "Our protest (to support wrestlers) is for one day (today). If the government doesn't find a solution, we will think about what to do next," a farmer leader told news agency PTI after being allowed to enter Delhi.