Indian Farmers join Wrestlers Protest

Against the sport's federation chief over allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation....


New Delhi: farmers broke down police barricades to join wrestlers protesting against the sport's federation chief over allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation.

 

Several wrestlers are from the nearby state of Haryana, a rice-producing area where many people make their living from farming.

 

The farmers were led by one of the groups behind the protests that had opposed three farm laws passed by parliament in 2020 that loosened rules around the sale, pricing and storage of farm produce.

 

The wrestlers, including Olympic medallists and Commonwealth champions, have been demanding an investigation and arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, who is also a parliamentarian from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

 

They have staged a protest in the centre of New Delhi for more than two weeks.

 

Singh has sexually harassed seven female wrestlers over more than a decade, the wrestlers allege. And the government and police have blocked investigations of their allegations.

 

Last month Delhi police registered two complaints against Singh, who denied the allegations.

 

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