Ayodhya: Posters with photos of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in his trademark orange turban have sprung up across Ayodhya urging people to come to the city on 5 June for a ‘Jan Chetna Maharally’. The seers, saints and sages behind the protest have one demand: Dilute the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. At the forefront, mobilising the masses across Uttar Pradesh is Brij Bhushan himself, the man accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers. Wrestling champions Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and others have been protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar since 23 April. Their day-long protest in January led to an inquiry whose report wasn’t made public and two FIRs that didn’t lead to Singh’s arrest.
One of the two FIRs registered pertains to the alleged sexual harassment of a minor. But Singh, the president of Wrestling Federation of India and Bharatiya Janata Party MP, has the support of most mutts here. Ayodhya is where he grew up, and loyalty runs deep. His supporters call him “netaji”, and this rally is being seen as a show of strength.
The Jan Chetna Maharally will be held in Ayodhya’s Ram Katha Park on 5 June. State transport buses have been decked up with posters of the event. Brij Bhushan has said that about 11 lakh people are expected to participate.
And while the wrestlers, who threatened to immerse their medals in the Ganga, were forcefully evicted from Jantar Mantar, Singh has been doing the rounds of Awadh and Purvanchal regions laying the ground for the rally. Over the last two weeks, he has visited Bahraich, Shravasti, Basti, Gonda and Balrampur drumming up fervour.
“We want that the law [POCSO] should not be misused and after making such serious allegations, the accused should also have the right to speak. In such a case the respect of the person is lost first. If the person is not found guilty then how will his honour be returned,” said Mahant Balram Das of the Sagariya Patti of the Hanumangarhi Temple.
But the BJP itself has not thrown its weight behind the protest.
“This rally has been called by the saints, not BJP. Party workers will not participate,” said BJP councillor Sanjay Shukla.
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BJP keeps its distance
The Ram Katha Park can barely hold 4,000-5,000 people, but logistics have not come in the way of enthusiasm. Local vendors are already seeing a surge in business.
“Who does not know Brij Bhushan Singh? He is such a big man. He runs dozens of schools in the surrounding area. But women wrestlers have accused him. We will see what happens,” said a vendor, on the condition of anonymity.
The seers have formed a committee to ensure the success of Jan Chetna Maharally. And Brij Bhushan’s team is helping them. Invitations have been sent to legal experts, former justices, senior advocates and social groups. And on Monday, more than 50 prominent seers of Ayodhya gathered at Vaidehi Bhawan where they discussed the purpose of the rally.
Attendees included Mahant Rambhushan Das Kripalu, head of Mangal Bhawan; Mahant Gaurishankar Das, former spokesperson of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad; Mahant Balram Das of the Sagariya Patti; and Mahant Kamalnayan Das, successor of the president of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra.
“Seers from all over the country will participate. The president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad will also come, along with the saints of Rishikesh, Varanasi, and Haridwar. This is not a political rally, saints and sages have called it,” said Sanjiv Singh, Brij Bhushan’s representative.
Mahant Gaurishankar Das said that saints from all over the country will attend the rally and discuss social justice.
“Allegations levelled against our MP look like a conspiracy. Previously, allegations were levelled against sants. Mere allegations don’t make a person guilty but they definitely ruin life,” he said.
However, the BJP’s Ayodhya unit is maintaining its distance from the rally. BJP district president Sanjeev Singh said that this is Brij Bhushan’s personal rally and the party has nothing to do with it.
“So far we have not received any information from the party president about attending the rally. The organisation decides who we should and should not join,” he said.
The conclusions drawn from the rally will be sent to the central government. The saints will also sign a 100-meter cloth to register their protest. This too will be sent to New Delhi.
Brij Bhushan, the six-time MP, is not new to controversy. He was arrested under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act in the mid-1990s and according to his election affidavit, he has four pending cases against him.
Kapil Sibal, MP and senior lawyer, has questioned why Brij Bhushan has not been arrested under the POCSO Act.
On Tuesday, the international governing body for wrestling, United World Wrestling (UWW), issued a statement and condemned the detention of wrestlers. “UWW…expresses its disappointment over the lack of results of the investigation so far,” read the statement.
Wrestling's world governing body has issued its first statement about the protests by the Indian wrestlers. pic.twitter.com/7mJxWoomQv
— ESPN India (@ESPNIndia) May 30, 2023
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Baseless allegations
Brij Bhushan Singh spent a better part of his student life in Ayodhya and claims to have the blessings of every mutt and saint here. Shivam Srivastava, representative of Mahant Sanjay Das, who is the successor of the head priest of Hanumangarhi Temple, said that Ayodhya has been the karmabhoomi of Brij Bhushan.
“His education took place here. He is a devotee of Hanuman. The allegations levelled against him are baseless. Everyone here knows him very well,” he said.
Mahant Mithilesh Nandini Sharan of Hanumat Niwas said that the purpose of the rally is to show that the laws and Constitution, which are meant to protect citizens and their self-respect, are being misused.
“It [POCSO Act] is being used to harass people. Citizens, government and policymakers should wake up to this. The law should be reviewed. That’s why saints have called this huge gathering,” he said.
But none of the seers wanted to comment on the wrestlers’ protest.
“We have a tradition of wrestling here [Ayodhya]. We are with the sisters and daughters of the country. If Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is guilty, then he should be hanged but if the charges against him are not proved, then who is guilty of accusing him,” said Gaurishankar Das.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)