Wrestlers' Stir Turns 'Saints vs Khaps' With Entry of Ayodhya Seers

No doubt the wrestlers' agitation is generating a lot of heat in the country. But there is much more than meets the eye. The stir has now become highly politicised with the opposition parties, espcially the Congress, as well as all the anti-Modi, anti-BJP and anti-Hindutva elements lending their active support to it.

Here is an apt example of how it has taken political hues. No sooner Maharashtra government named cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar as its 'Smile Ambassador' under its 'Swachh Mukh Abhiyan' to spread awareness about oral health and hygiene across the State, Youth Congress workers put up a banner outside his Mumbai residence over his "silence" on the wrestlers issue.

In another development, a group of seers in Ayodhya has come out in support of the beleagured Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexually harassing women grapplers. Singh is going to hold a 'Jan Chetna Maha Rally' at Ram Katha Park in Ayodhya on June 5.

The seers have announced to attend the rally too, in large numbers. "We the seers of Ayodhya and other religious places of the country like Haridwar, Kashi, Mathura, etc will attend the rally in favour of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh," said Mahant Satyendra Das, speaking on behalf of the seemingly annoyed seers.

Apart from supporting Singh, the seers have also demanded suitable amendments to the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. ''The Act has many loopholes and defective clauses. It is being misused, hence it needs amendments," the Mahant explained.

With this, the seers are certainly come face to face with the Khaps of Haryana and farmers' organisations of western Uttar Pradesh who are backing the agitating wrestlers with all their might under the leadership of Rakesh Tikait of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), which had spearheaded the farmers' agitation in 2020-21.

It was in an Ayodhya college where Brij Bhushan Singh had started his political career as a student leader and later waded into mainstream politics while practising wrestling under the guidance of Hanuman Garhi temple priests, who have now have decided to throw their weight behind him.

"Singh's association with Ayodhya, its seers and the Ram Mandir movement is more than enough for seers to come out in his support. The only option left for Brij Bhushan to counter khaps and farmer outfits is by mobilising support of Ayodhya seers," another Ayodhya seer said.

Sinking their differences, Ayodhya seers will come on a common platform to support Singh, who was also a known face of the Ram Mandir movement. Followers of Mani Ram Das Chhavni Peeth of Ayodhya based in Varanasi, Haridwar and Mathura cities will also attend the rally.

The all-powerful Mani Ram Das Chhavni Peeth, led by Mahant Kamal Nayan Das, and the Lakshman Qila faction, led by Mahant Maithili Raman Sharan, have set aside their differences to present a united front in favour of the WFI chief.

"Brij Bhushan's roots are deeply entrenched in Ayodhya. From college days to mainstream politics and Ram Mandir movement, he has spent a long part of his life in Ayodhya. He was a local resident then and was closely associated with seers, especially sadhus of Hanuman Garhi temple," said Mahant Kamal Nayan Das.

"Brij Bhushan's clout in Ayodhya is such that seers of various factions have come on a common platform to extend support to him. All charges against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh are politically motivated and fake. We demand a probe and action against those who are responsible for this controversy," he said.

Mahant Kamal Nayan is the successor to Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, chairman of Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra Trust. Reiterating his demand for an amendment to the POCSO Act, he said: "Innocent people are being harassed by misusing the Act. Fake allegations are being levelled against them, especially seers, Mahants and politicians. It must be amended."

This demand is not without reason. After the Supreme Court's order, the Delhi Police on April 29 this year, lodged two FIRs against Brij Bhushan. The first FIR was filed under the POCSO Act on the complaint of sexual harassment by a minor wrestler.

Meanwhile, the VHP cadre at Karsewakpuram in Ayodhya, the epicentre of the Ram Mandir movement, is also mobilising support for Brij Bhushan's June 5 rally. "There is no directive from the organisation (VHP) for Brij Bhushan Sharan's rally. Whatever we are doing is due to his close association with the Ram Mandir movement," said a VHP office bearer.

Rakesh Tikait, on the other hand, said that farmers would stand in support of the wrestlers who are the pride of the nation. "We will take this fight to its logical conclusion, no matter how long it takes. The wrestlers are our children and we will not allow any harm to them and their honour," he said.

Meanwhile, an observer opined that with the entry of "andolanjibis" (people who make a living out of agitations) like Tikait into the wrestlers' agitation, the behind-the-scene handlers of this whipped-up unrest would be happy as it seems to be going on the right track, i.e. on the farmers' agitation line, as per their "toolkit". So, more fireworks are expected to be seen in the coming days.