CM Khattar has been met with protests at public outreach programmes, while Opposition is cashing in on the support for the wrestlers who belong to the state

Unease is growing within the Haryana BJP as the wrestlers’ standoff with the Centre continues to stretch and gather momentum, especially in the light of the Lok Sabha and Haryana Assembly polls coming up next year. Although most of the state leaders have stayed clear of the protest, only giving measured statements, if any, a few have come out in open support of the wrestlers’ struggle to seek justice.

All the three wrestlers spearheading the protests for over four months now — Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia — are natives of Haryana. Malik is from Mokhra village in Rohtak, Vinesh from Charkhi Dadri and Punia from Khudan village in Jhajjar.

The BJP is already jittery over Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar facing protests and disruptions in his Jan Samvad (public connect) programmes. On a few occasions, Khattar even lost his temper.

The wrestlers have got full support from the strong farmers’ unions in the state, which are talking of a mass protest against BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. There is already residual anger among the unions over the contentious farm laws that the Centre had scrapped but after farmers had sat in protest for a year on Delhi borders.

The opposition Congress, meanwhile, that spots a golden opportunity in the wrestlers’ protest, has thrown its weight behind the wrestlers. Most of the wrestlers belong to the Jat community, and the Congress has a strong support base among them. The wrestlers also have the support of the INLD, also a Jat-centred party, and the fledgling Aam Aadmi Party.

But despite these growing voices of support for the wrestlers, and the gravity of charges against Brij Bhushan, the Haryana BJP leadership has not blinked so far. The exceptions include Home Minister Anil Vij, who offered to convey the wrestlers’ demands to “the highest level within the party”, Hisar MP Brijendra Singh who said he “feels the pain and helplessness of our wrestlers”, and his father and former Union minister Birender Singh, who went to Jantar Mantar and met the wrestlers.

Earlier this month, the wrestlers had even sought Khattar’s support and intervention in the matter. But the CM had washed his hands of, saying, “The issue is not related to Haryana… but to the players’ teams and the Union government. The Supreme Court has already ordered the registration of FIRs… An investigation shall follow.”

Former Union minister Birender Singh told The Indian Express on Wednesday that he had raised the issue with BJP president J P Nadda and told him that “it would hurt the party’s credibility”. Singh said, “I met our party chief, twice. On both times, I told him the party should not treat this as an issue concerning wrestlers from one state. It is a matter of grave concern and the party’s credibility is at stake. I requested him [Nadda] to intervene, talk to the Sports Ministry or whoever can resolve the issue amicably, at the earliest. I said we talk about women’s empowerment, so we should act on it.”

“I also told the party president that even if it is perceived that they [the wrestlers] are working at the behest of some political party or have been instigated by someone, their voices need to be heard and should be heard. They are raising an issue that should be addressed,” Singh added.

He also raised questions regarding the control of sports federations, he said. “The problem lies with politicians, especially those in power, as well as industrialists and bureaucrats running such federations. The government should introduce reforms in the way sports federations are run.”

Asked about the wrestlers’ protest, Haryana BJP president Om Prakash Dhankar said he had raised it with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur. “I emphasised that those protesting at Jantar Mantar are our daughters and they should get justice. The minister said they will surely get justice,” Dhankar said.

Another senior BJP leader said, “There is no doubt the matter does not pertain to Haryana. But, that is the issue… the BJP is a cadre-based party and the CM can’t speak much on the matter.”

Another BJP leader admitted the party’s silence on the matter might boomerang. “There are certain issues that need to be dealt with above party policies. One should have the courage not only to speak one’s minds, but also listen to and understand ground realities. Whatever the reason behind the protest may be, a delay in reaching a logical conclusion will change perceptions on the ground.”