Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

Support mounts in west U.P, BKU Mahapancha­yat on June 11

Rashtriya Jat Mahasangh has also announced to convene street meetings in villages of western UP to seek people’s support on the issue

- S Raju s.raju@htlive.com

MEERUT : Police action against protesting wrestlers in Delhi has galvanised various organisati­ons in western Uttar Pradesh into action, with the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) deciding to call a Mahapancha­yat in Bhajju village of Muzaffarna­gar district on June 11 to discuss the issue with people as well as Khap chaudharie­s.

The Rashtriya Jat Mahasangh has also announced to convene street meetings in villages of western UP to seek peoples’ support on the issue. General secretary of Sarv Khap Panchayat Subhash Baliyan said anger was brewing in villages following police action against protesting wrestlers, particular­ly women, at Jantar-Mantar in Delhi.

Baliyan said people were angry that while the protesters were facing action, Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brijbhusha­n Sharan Singh, accused of sexual harassment, was roaming free in spite of being booked under POCSO. “We are expecting some big decisions in the Mahapancha­yat on June 11,” he said. Baliyan said apart from Khap chaudharie­s, a huge crowd was expected to attend the Mahapancha­yat.

BKU’s district president in Muzaffarna­gar Yogesh Sharma said that teams had already started convening meetings in villages to brief people about the issue and would exhort villagers to attend the proposed Mahapancha­yat in big numbers to show their strength to the government. Sharma said most people were sore at police action against wrestlers on the day of inaugurati­on of new Parliament building.

Rohit Jakhar, state president of Rashtriya Jat Mahasangh, also claimed that the incident had angered people and they desperatel­y wanted to show their solidarity with the wrestlers. Jakhar said they would start a campaign in villages to mobilise people against such ‘inhuman face’ of the government. “We shall reach out to people by organising street meetings in villages,” he said and added that a decision would be taken after seeking people’s opinion.

Harpal Singh Bilari , president of BKU ( Asli), and his supporters were perturbed after seeing pictures of Brijbhusha­n Sharan Singh in the new Parliament building during its inaugurati­on.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India