Clash between wrestlers and cops during protest at New Parliament Building
New Delhi, May 28: A clash erupted between protesting wrestlers and Delhi police personnel as the wrestlers attempted to breach the security barricades and march towards the new Parliament building.
Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia expressed his frustration, urging the police to shoot them all and claimed that Sakshi Malik had been detained. The wrestlers accused the police of obstructing their peaceful march. The scuffle occurred on the day of the new Parliament building's inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The wrestlers were seen climbing over the barricades, asserting their rights as citizens to move freely. A "Mahila Mahapanchayat" (Women's Council) was scheduled to take place on the same day. The wrestlers are protesting against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brih Bhushan Singh, demanding his resignation and action against him.
#WATCH | Mahapanchayat will certainly be held today. We're fighting for our self-respect.They're inaugurating the new Parliament building today, but murdering democracy in the country.We appeal to the administration to release our people detained by police: Wrestler Bajrang Punia pic.twitter.com/VI4kGLxGWV — ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2023
Earlier, Punia criticized the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the contradiction between the inauguration of the new Parliament building and the alleged suppression of democracy. He appealed to the administration to release the detained individuals and confirmed that the planned Mahapanchayat would proceed as scheduled.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police enhanced security measures near the Singhu border, ITO road, and Tikri border, expecting Khap panchayat leaders and farmers to join the wrestlers in their protest against Brij Bhushan Singh for alleged sexual harassment of female grapplers. The wrestlers, along with the farmers, intended to march towards the new Parliament house in Delhi. Police conducted thorough checks on vehicles entering the national capital at the border.
Barricades were erected by the Delhi Police, and the protesting wrestlers planned to organize a "Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat" before their march to the new Parliament house.
- With inputs from agencies
