Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a Member of Parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has decided to postpone his planned “grand rally” in Ayodhya, which was scheduled to take place on June 5. This announcement comes in the wake of increasing demands for his arrest following allegations of sexual harassment made by prominent wrestlers, including at least one minor. Representatives of approximately 50 clan-based organizations, known as khaps, gathered in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, to express their support for the wrestlers and stated their intention to meet with President Droupadi Murmu to demand action against Singh. The Union government has reiterated its commitment to handling the matter sensitively.
In a Facebook post, Singh referred to the ongoing police investigation and Supreme Court directives as the reasons for the rally’s postponement. The event was expected to feature the participation of Ayodhya saints, who had previously expressed solidarity with Singh and criticized the misuse of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act under which he has been booked.
In a powerful display of protest, Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia, Rio Games bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, and double World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat refrained from immersing their medals in the Ganga during a televised huddle in Haridwar. These wrestlers, who are among those making allegations against Singh, have demanded his immediate arrest. Singh, who served as the head of the now-suspended Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for 12 years, has been slapped with two cases.
The situation has sparked a contentious debate over the appropriate handling of the allegations and the potential misuse of the POCSO Act. Ayodhya saints, in their previous press conference, called for an amendment to the act and claimed that Singh was being unjustly harassed.
Meanwhile, Singh himself has vehemently denied the allegations and went so far as to say that he would take his own life if any of the accusations were proven true. As the investigation unfolds and pressure mounts, the decision to postpone the rally reflects the gravity of the situation and the growing public concern surrounding the allegations against the BJP MP.