Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, May 28: The protesting wrestlers were stopped and held by security personnel in Delhi on Sunday as they attempted to march from their point of protest at Jantar Mantar to the new Parliament.
The wrestlers are attempting to march in the direction of the new Parliament because they want to host a women’s Maha Panchayat there.
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan is seated in the parliament, but we are not permitted to enter, stated Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat after the detention of the wrestlers.
“We are not being allowed to enter and our people are being detained. He (Brij Bhushan) is sitting in parliament and we are being sent to jail,” said Vinesh Phogat.
In order to ensure the smooth operation of the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building, Delhi Police on Sunday said that “unsocial elements” will not be allowed to enter the national capital, said DCP, Sonipat East Gaurav Rajpurohit. The announcement came ahead of a march by wrestlers towards the newly-built Parliament building.
Wrestlers have been protesting Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexual harassment, and a Khap Panchayat has called for a ‘Mahila maha panchayat’ in favour of them. A police report against him has been made by seven female wrestlers.
“We have deployed male and female companies at Delhi-Haryana border points to ensure unsocial elements are stopped from entering Delhi. Sonipat East Zone Police has not detained anyone so far. We will not allow people to enter Delhi if their motive is to disrupt the inauguration of the new Parliament House, our intelligence team is identifying such people,” added the DCP.
“We will not allow anything to disrupt the inauguration of the new Parliament building. The entire Delhi Police is on its toes to make sure the inauguration ceremony is conducted smoothly,” said Delhi Police Special CP Deepender Pathak.
Ahead of a march by wrestlers, Delhi Police stepped up security throughout the nation’s capital, even at its borders.
All of the national capital’s borders were secured by the police with barricades in order to thwart any protest or gathering.
“Delhi Police are prepared for such situations. We have enough force to deploy. Last time the border was closed for months because of the protesters (farmers’ protests). We have prepared our forces so that such situations do not arise again. We will convince the protesters to return,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Delhi Amrutha Gugulot.