Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait reiterates support to wrestlers after they suspend protest till June 15

Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait reiterated his support to wrestlers on Wednesday, within hours of their announcement after meeting Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur that their protest against the wrestling federation chief will be suspended till June 15.

Tikait, the spokesperson of the influential Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), said the farmers' community would stand by the wrestlers.

A group of wrestlers, including Olympians and World Championship medallists, have been protesting against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, demanding his arrest on allegations of sexual harassment against seven female grapplers, including a minor.

Singh, a Lok Sabha MP of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has denied the charges.

''It is good if any agreement has been arrived at (between the wrestlers and the government) that the Delhi Police will conclude its probe in the case by June 15. We are with the sports committee and now, talks have started between the government, the administration and the sports committee. The (farmers') community is standing by them (the wrestlers) and would work as required by them,'' Tikait told PTI.

The wrestlers, after a nearly-five-hour meeting with Thakur, said the government has also assured them that all the FIRs lodged against them will be withdrawn.

The wrestlers were booked for violation of law and order on May 28, when they marched towards the new Parliament building without permission to organise a ''Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat''.

Wednesday's meeting was attended by Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, her husband Satyawart Kadiyan and Jitender Kinha.