The protesting wrestlers are hoping that the khap mahapanchayat scheduled at Jantar Mantar on Sunday will be of huge success and will help in getting more support for them in their fight against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh.

Top wrestlers of the country, including Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat, are protesting for the last two weeks at the Jantar Mantar here, demanding the sacking of Singh as WFI chief and his arrest because of the alleged sexual harassment of women grapplers.

“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,” Vinesh said on Saturday.

“We hope we will achieve success in this fight so that truth prevails.”

Vinesh urged the supporters to be peaceful on Sunday so that bad elements do not hijack the protest.

“Tomorrow (Sunday), a lot of people are expected to join us from villages... khap panchayats, kisan and mazdoor unions, student organisations. 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 the police,” said the Asian Games gold medallist.

“We also request the police not to stop our supporters.”

Bajrang, an Olympic medallist, has appealed to the countrymen to observe a candlelight march on Sunday to show solidarity with the grapplers.

Sakshi Malik said they are yet to decide the future course of action as their lawyers are still working on it. “Our statements are yet to be recorded, we have been waiting for that.”

PTI