Samyukta Kisan Morcha condemns statements made by BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh for amending the POSCO act and demands his immediate arrest

Samyukta Kisan Morcha vehemently condemns the statements made by BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for amending the POSCO act and the Modi Government’s protection of the sexual harassment accused. For over 40 days, several top wrestlers of India have been protesting against sexual harassment, after the Government reneged on the promise of a fair and transparent inquiry. Only after the intervention of the Supreme Court, two FIRs were registered against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh — including Section 10 of the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses) Act and Section 354 A of the POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) Act. Yet, contrary to the norms under the POSCO Act, no arrest has been made to date.

Instead, the Government has tried to suppress the case and delegitimize the protests. The wrestlers have been assaulted and abused on news media and social media. When these athletes continued their protest and organized a peaceful march in Delhi on 28 May, the Delhi Police brutally suppressed their protest march. The wrestlers were dragged and detained, and FIR was lodged against them. Their protest camp at Jantar-Mantar, where they had been carrying out a peaceful struggle since 23 April, was demolished by the police.

Meanwhile, the accused BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, along with his supporters, has claimed that he “will force the government to change” the POSCO act. There is also a sustained campaign on news media and social media against the Act. The POSCO Act protects children from sexual abuse. Since the conviction rate in cases of sexual abuse of children is extremely low, the POSCO act is made cognizable & non-bailable. The arrest is the norm in cases under this act. An amendment to the POSCO act will leave lakhs of our daughters vulnerable to sexual abuse by predators like Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The Modi Government’s protection of the sexual harassment accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, along with the campaign against the POSCO act, exposes the sham of “Beti Bachao”. SKM will not tolerate this heinous attack against the daughters of India.

SKM demands the immediate arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and action against those who abuse the daughters of India. As previously announced, SKM — along with the Joint Platform of Trade Unions, Platforms of Women, Youths, Students, Cultural Activists, Traders, and common citizens — will organize nationwide protests on 5 June to demand the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Demonstrations and candlelight processions will be organized in villages and town centers across India. We appeal to all the citizens to come out in solidarity with our daughters and strongly condemn the Union Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that tries to protect the sexual harassment accused. If the Modi Government fails to act, larger protests will follow.