Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat joined farmers protesting at the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana on Saturday. Phogat said that the central government should listen to the farmers’ concerns and give their problems first priority.

At the end of the 200-day ‘Delhi Chalo’ agitation, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha organised a ‘kisan mahapanchayat’ to advocate for their demands, which included a legal guarantee for MSP.

The farmers who were protesting praised Phogat after she was disqualified from the 50-kg final match at the last Olympic Games in Paris. “I want to tell you that your daughter is with you,” the wrestler said, supporting the farmers in her speech.

Phogat further added that the demands of the farmers were not illegitimate. Speaking to reporters, she said that the farmers are protesting because their demands are still not being met. “Sometimes we feel helpless at not being able to do anything for them. We represent the country at international levels but we could not do anything for our own family. It is a request that the government should listen to them,” she added.

The wrestler from Charkhi Dadri district responded to a query regarding the upcoming Haryana assembly elections by saying, “I don’t know anything about politics.” When asked if she would back Haryana farmers if they started a protest, she said, “Why not?” She continued saying that the nation’s farmers are unhappy, and their issues must be resolved. The government ought to prioritise resolving these issues. “Their struggle will not go in vain, I am sure about this,” she added.

The farmers have been protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, when their march was stopped by security forces.

She was part of the agitation by wrestlers, mostly from Haryana, against the then Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP leader Brijbhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment last year.

A few days ago, she was honoured with a gold medal by the Sarvkhap Panchayat in Haryana’s Rohtak. 

(with inputs from PTI)