Following ongoing police investigations and the “serious” directions from the Supreme Court, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the Chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and a BJP MP, has announced the postponement of a proposed ‘Sant Sammelan’ in Ayodhya, originally scheduled for June 5. This decision comes as Singh faces sexual harassment allegations made by wrestlers. The gathering, expected to attract over 11 lakh people, was announced by sants in Ayodhya, and Singh referred to it as ‘Jan Chetna Maharali’.
In a Facebook post, Singh explained that the police investigation and the Supreme Court’s directives have prompted the decision to postpone the event. He stated, “Considering the evil spreading across society, it was decided to hold a Sant Sammelan in Ayodhya on June 5. However, now that the police are investigating the allegations and respecting the serious directions of the Supreme Court, the ‘Jan Chetna Maharali, June 5, Ayodhya Chalo’ program has been postponed for a few days.”
Previously, sants in Ayodhya had announced a large gathering on June 5 to seek amendments in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, claiming that certain provisions were being misused. Although Singh’s name was not mentioned, he was invited for the Sammelan and was seen as a key figure behind it.
Singh defended himself in his post, highlighting his 28-year tenure as a member of the Lok Sabha and his efforts to unite people of all castes, communities, and religions, both in power and opposition. He attributed the sexual harassment allegations to false accusations by his political opponents, accusing them of attempting to disrupt social harmony through provincialism, regionalism, and ethnic conflict.
The Ayodhya District Magistrate, Nitish Kumar, confirmed that no application had been received for a rally on June 5 but acknowledged an application for organizing a Sant Samagam. However, scheduling conflicts with World Environment Day events on the same day make it difficult to accommodate the gathering. Sources close to Singh stated that no decision has been made regarding a future date for the Sammelan.
