WFI vs Wrestlers' Protest: Haryana Minister Anil Vij extends support, Delhi police brief Home Ministry

Haryana Home and Health Minister Anil Vij also joined the wrestlers in protest.

The ongoing wrestlers' protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi has entered its 14th day. Despite allegedly having to be on the receiving end of the lathis of the Delhi police and the Supreme Court rejecting their plea given that the Delhi police has registered FIRs against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the wrestlers stand firm on their demands and have pledged to continue the protests until the law brings the BJP MLA to justice.

The wrestlers' protest continues to see the support of the general masses, student councils, organisations dealing with women's rights and several political parties currently in opposition in the centre. Farmers' unions have also joined the protests, and two different advisory committees were formed to help the wrestlers deal with all the aspects of their protests.

Let's see what happened on the 14th day of the protests:

Vinesh wants demonstrations to be peaceful

Vinesh Phogat has claimed that the success of the wrestlers' protests is dependent on their peaceful nature of theirs. She also expressed the gratitude of the wrestlers to the ones joining them at the Jantar Mantar to show their support. Her statements come after the reports of the presence of fringe elements among the protestors.

"Today is the 14th day of our sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar. The fact is you guys (supporters) are here, and we are here too. We would like to thank all who are sitting with us here and supporting us. We would like to thank the entire country for standing with us in this fight for justice. We hope we will achieve success in this fight so that truth prevails," Vinesh was quoted as saying by the PTI.

"Tomorrow, a lot of people are expected to join us from villages... khap panchayats, kisan and mazdoor unions, student organisations to support us. We appeal to everyone to be peaceful. Our success depends on a peaceful demonstration. We also request all who will come tomorrow to cooperate with authorities and police. We also request the police not to stop our supporters tomorrow," said the Asian Games gold medallist.

Speaking on the presence of the fringe elements, Sakshi Malik explained, "Can't do anything about the people in the crowd. We are just taking care of ourselves. Doing everything methodically and with utmost care that nothing goes wrong."

Bajrang Punia requested those who can't join the protests to come out on the streets with candlelights on 7th May, 7 pm.

Haryana Home Minister joins wrestlers' protest

Haryana and Home Minister Anil Vij has joined the list of political leaders stepping forward to join the wrestlers' protest. The minister also offered to be the mediator between the wrestlers and the government given his history with the ministry of sports.

Speaking on the wrestlers' protest, he said "This entire matter is now being addressed at the highest level. Since I have also been a sports minister, my sympathies and support are with the protesting wrestlers. If they want me to mediate and talk to the government, I am willing to do so."

Home Ministry briefed about the scuffle

Delhi police have updated the Union Home Ministry on whatever happened between the wrestlers' protest and the police on Wednesday night. For the uninitiated, a scrimmage broke out between the police and the wrestlers after the latter tried to bring folding beds and mattresses to the site of the protest.

The wrestlers have also claimed that the Union Minister of Sports, Anurag Thakur, hasn't approached them. They believe that their demands are clear and so understand that a meeting would be futile.

Sakshi Malik told reporters, "There is no approach from his side. He already knows our demands, so it doesn't make sense to meet him again. If he wants to talk to us, we will definitely talk."