In a dramatic turn of events, India's renowned wrestlers, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik, were detained by the Delhi police on Sunday, just hours before a Mahila Mahapanchayat (women's conclave) was scheduled to take place near the newly-inaugurated Parliament building.
The athletes have been leading a protest demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and an MP of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), over allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation made by at least seven women wrestlers, including a minor.
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As the wrestlers were being taken away in buses, Vinesh Phogat ironically remarked, "Naya desh mubarak ho" (congratulations on the new country), highlighting the irony of their detention near the new Parliament building.
Multiple buses filled with protesters were taken to different police stations, and the police proceeded to dismantle the protest site at Jantar Mantar, removing tents, hoardings, and even the Tricolour that the wrestlers had displayed.
The Delhi Police stated that no protestors would be allowed near the new Parliament building, as they did not have permission to hold the event. Additionally, the police warned the wrestlers against engaging in any "anti-national activity."
In a bid to show solidarity, hundreds of farmers were stopped by the police at the Haryana-Punjab border near Ambala city, preventing them from entering the capital.
Stringent security measures were implemented in several districts of Haryana, with thorough vehicle checks being conducted at entry points. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait expressed disappointment over the restrictions and vowed to determine the next course of action.
Notably, the wrestlers' protest comes after a year-long farmers' protest against three agriculture laws, which ultimately led to the laws being repealed in November 2021.
The protest sites at Delhi's border entry points, such as Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur, witnessed prolonged sit-in agitations by thousands of farmers.
The Delhi Police, anticipating potential disruptions to law and order, announced that all vehicles entering Delhi on Sunday would be scrutinized, and individuals deemed capable of causing disturbances would be denied entry. A traffic advisory was issued, designating the New Delhi district as a controlled area from 5:30 am to 3 pm. Only public transport vehicles, civil service aspirants, residents, labeled vehicles, and emergency vehicles would be permitted in the area during this period.
As part of their preparations, the police sought permission from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to utilize the MC Primary Girls School in the Kanjawala Chowk area of Old Bawana as a temporary jail. However, Mayor Shelly Oberoi refused to grant permission.
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