The Mahapanchayat of Khaps that met in Muzaffarnagar on Thursday has decided to meet President Droupadi Murmu if need be and seek justice for the protesting wrestlers demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on charges of sexual harassment.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesman Rakesh Tikait said the final decision on the issue of wrestlers' protest will be taken at a meeting in Haryana on Friday.
The Mahapanchayat held at Sauram village extended full support to the protesting wrestlers and demanded the arrest of WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Meanwhile, farmer leader Mangeram Tyagi alleged that the wrestlers' protest is being given a casteist colour.
"Did anyone ask them (the protesting wrestlers) about their caste when they won medals for the country," he asked.
BKU chief Naresh Tikait, who had persuaded the wrestlers not to immerse their medals into River Ganga on Tuesday, made it clear that they will leave no stone unturned.
"We will go to the President of India if need be. We are with the wrestlers and they don't have to worry. I told them not to immerse their medals in Ganga, rather put them up for auction. The entire world will come forward and ask you to stop the auction," he added.
"You should understand what the Central government is doing. They broke Lalu Prasad's family in Bihar. See what they did with Mulayam Singh Yadav's family. The same thing is happening in Rajasthan," Naresh Tikait said.
The wrestlers have been on a warpath since January, demanding action against WFI chief Singh, whom they accused of sexually harassing seven athletes.
Singh, who is also a BJP MP, has asserted that would accept any punishment if the allegations against him are proven.
"If a single allegation against me is proven, I will hang myself. If you (wrestlers) have any evidence, present it to the court, and I am ready to accept any punishment," he said.
The government, in its first comment on the matter on Wednesday, had warned the wrestlers against any precipitate action and advised them to wait for the conclusion of the police investigation.
De-dollarisation: President Trump threatens BRICS with 100 pc tariffs
Expressing his stance against de-dollarisation vehemently on Friday, Donald Trump warned BRICS nations and threatened them with 100 per cent tariffs on their exports if they try to replace the US dollar as the main currency in global trade.
'Deeply saddened, we stand in solidarity with US', PM Modi expresses grief on Washington DC plane collision
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the Washington DC midair plane-helicopter collision and said that India stands in solidarity with the people of the US.
3 member judicial panel to reach Maha Kumbh today to probe reason behind stampede
Members of the Judicial Enquiry Commission that has been set up to go into the reasons behind the tragic stampede at the ongoing Maha Kumbh that resulted in 30 deaths and injuries to 60 people on Wednesday, will reach Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj at around 1 pm on Friday.
President Murmu to address joint session of Parliament today
The President will address the joint sitting at 11 a.m. After her address, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will table the Economic Survey 2024-25 in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha separately.
UP govt brings fresh measures after stampede deaths in Mahakumbh Mela
A day after at least 30 people were killed in a predawn stampede at the Maha Kumbh, the Uttar Pradesh government has enforced stricter measures for better crowd management and safety of devotees as it restricted vehicular movement, cancelled VIP passes, increased security deployment, and ended needless restrictions on the pontoon bridges that connect the mela city.
Waqf Amendment Act among 16 Bills to be tabled in Budget Session from today
Sixteen Bills, including the Finance Bill 2025, amendments to the Waqf and Banking Regulations Act, and the merging of the Indian Railways and Indian Railways Board Acts, will be tabled in Parliament's Budget session, which begins on Friday with the Economic Survey 2024/25.
Economic Survey to be presented by Finance Minister Sitharaman in Parliament today
The Economic Survey, a pre-budget document detailing the state of the economy over the last fiscal year, will be presented in Parliament at 12 p.m. on Friday by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Israel PM Netanyahu welcomes home released hostages
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a statement welcoming home the three Israelis who were released on Thursday from captivity in Gaza -- Agam Berger, Arbel Yehud and Gadi Moses.