Amid the ongoing wrestlers' protest, representatives of khaps or clan-based farmer groups from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab,&nbsp;Rajasthan and Delhi will meet in Muzaffarnagar to discuss the protests.&nbsp;Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Naresh Tikait who was at the forefront of last year's "anti-farm laws" will also be leading the mahapanchayat.&nbsp;

The decision to hold the mega-meet comes days after wrestlers halted the&nbsp;plan to immerse their medals in River Ganga as an act of defiance. It was Tikait who had urged the protesting wrestlers to not go ahead with the decision.&nbsp;

“A mahapanchayat’ will be held in Soram village on Thursday to discuss the ongoing protest by wrestlers. Representatives of different khaps from UP, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Delhi will participate in it,” said Tikait.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wrestlers-halt-medals-consigning-in-river-ganga-in-haridwar-set-to-continue-protest-598423">ALSO READ |&nbsp;Wrestlers halt consigning of medals to River Ganga in Haridwar; set to launch hunger strike</a>

According to various reports, 35 khaps are expected to participate in the meeting on Thursday. Though the protests have been confined to the capital city so far, the involvement of khaps means that the demonstrations could spread across the country.&nbsp;

“The wrestlers took an emotional decision on Tuesday to immerse their medals and it was our duty to stop them. The khaps will meet on Thursday to discuss the future of protest. The struggle will still be led by the wrestlers and all khaps and farmer unions will support them to the hilt,” Chaudhary Surender Solanki, president of Palam 360 khap in Delhi was quoted as saying by HT.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-wrestlers-to-toss-their-medals-in-river-ganga-598404">WATCH |&nbsp;Indian Wrestlers to toss their medals in river Ganga</a>

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<h2>Why are the wrestlers protesting?&nbsp;</h2>

The wrestlers have accused Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Chief&nbsp;Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually harassing athletes, a charge that the body chief refutes. They are demanding that Bhushan step down from his position and that law enforcement agencies probe the allegations.&nbsp;

After initially calling off a protest earlier this year, the wrestlers were forced to do another sit-in at the Jantar Mantar as no progress was made in the case. It was only after the Supreme Court intervened that the Delhi police lodged an FIR against Bhushan and directed authorities to conduct a probe.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha has said&nbsp;the wrestlers were tarnishing the image of the country and they should have approached the body instead of taking it to the streets.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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Amid the ongoing wrestlers' protest, representatives of khaps or clan-based farmer groups from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Delhi will meet in Muzaffarnagar to discuss the protests.

Amid the ongoing wrestlers' protest, representatives of khaps or clan-based farmer groups from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Delhi will meet in Muzaffarnagar to discuss the protests. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Naresh Tikait who was at the forefront of last year's "anti-farm laws" will also be leading the mahapanchayat. The decision to hold the mega-meet comes days after wrestlers halted the plan to immerse their medals in River Ganga as an act of defiance. It was Tikait who had urged the protesting wrestlers to not go ahead with the decision. “A mahapanchayat’ will be held in Soram village on Thursday to discuss the ongoing protest by wrestlers. Representatives of different khaps from UP, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Delhi will participate in it,” said Tikait. ALSO READ | Wrestlers halt consigning of medals to River Ganga in Haridwar; set to launch hunger strike According to various reports, 35 khaps are expected to participate in the meeting on Thursday. Though the protests have been confined to the capital city so far, the involvement of khaps means that the demonstrations could spread across the country. “The wrestlers took an emotional decision on Tuesday to immerse their medals and it was our duty to stop them. The khaps will meet on Thursday to discuss the future of protest. The struggle will still be led by the wrestlers and all khaps and farmer unions will support them to the hilt,” Chaudhary Surender Solanki, president of Palam 360 khap in Delhi was quoted as saying by HT. WATCH | Indian Wrestlers to toss their medals in river Ganga × Why are the wrestlers protesting? The wrestlers have accused Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually harassing athletes, a charge that the body chief refutes. They are demanding that Bhushan step down from his position and that law enforcement agencies probe the allegations. After initially calling off a protest earlier this year, the wrestlers were forced to do another sit-in at the Jantar Mantar as no progress was made in the case. It was only after the Supreme Court intervened that the Delhi police lodged an FIR against Bhushan and directed authorities to conduct a probe. Meanwhile, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha has said the wrestlers were tarnishing the image of the country and they should have approached the body instead of taking it to the streets. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: Khaps to hold mahapanchayat to discuss future of wrestlers' protest

The Supreme Court on Monday cracked a whip against khap panchayats in connection with cases pertaining to so-called honour killing.

The top&nbsp;court asked khap panchayats to &quot;not become conscience keepers&quot; as the &quot;law will take its own course&quot;.

The top court also asked the Centre and petitioners to come up with effective suggestions for the protection of couples from khap panchayats.

The Supreme Court told the advocate representing khap&nbsp;panchayats that &quot;it is the courts to decide if marriages are legally valid or not.&quot; 
 
Also Read -&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/attacks-on-couples-by-khap-panchayats-absolutely-illegal-supreme-court-29736">Attacks on couples by </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/attacks-on-couples-by-khap-panchayats-absolutely-illegal-supreme-court-29736">khap</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/attacks-on-couples-by-khap-panchayats-absolutely-illegal-supreme-court-29736"> panchayats &#39;absolutely illegal&#39;: Supreme Court</a>

The Supreme Court also pulled up the Khap Panchayats for taking the law into their own hands in the name of so-called honour killings. 
 
Earlier on January 16, the top court rapped the Centre for failing to prevent attacks on couples, who did inter-caste marriages.The three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra, said, &quot;If the Centre does not act against Khap Panchayats, then the court will step in.&quot;

The top court also observed that &quot;no Khap Panchayat or society can question&quot; if an adult man and woman opt for an inter-caste marriage.

The top court said 'it is the courts to decide if marriages are legally valid or not'

The Supreme Court on Monday cracked a whip against khap panchayats in connection with cases pertaining to so-called honour killing. The top court asked khap panchayats to "not become conscience keepers" as the "law will take its own course". The top court also asked the Centre and petitioners to come up with effective suggestions for the protection of couples from khap panchayats. The Supreme Court told the advocate representing khap panchayats that "it is the courts to decide if marriages are legally valid or not." Also Read - Attacks on couples by khap panchayats 'absolutely illegal': Supreme Court The Supreme Court also pulled up the Khap Panchayats for taking the law into their own hands in the name of so-called honour killings. Earlier on January 16, the top court rapped the Centre for failing to prevent attacks on couples, who did inter-caste marriages.The three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra, said, "If the Centre does not act against Khap Panchayats, then the court will step in." The top court also observed that "no Khap Panchayat or society can question" if an adult man and woman opt for an inter-caste marriage.

Supreme Court raps khap panchayats, asks them not to become 'conscience keepers'

The Supreme Court of India today termed as &quot;absolutely illegal&quot; any attack by khap panchayats or associations against adult men and women opting for inter-caste marriages.

&quot;Whenever there is any kind of collective attack on a boy or girl who are adult, it is absolutely illegal,&quot; the bench said.

The top court said that if an adult man and a woman got married, no khap, panchayat or society could question them.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud asked the Centre for its response on suggestions earlier given by amicus curiae (friend of the court) Raju Ramachandran on ways to prevent harassment and killing of young couples in the name of family honour for marrying out of their caste or clan (gotra).

&quot;Whatever the amicus curiae says about khap, we are not concerned with that. What we are concerned is that if an adult girl or boy gets into marriage, no khap, no individual or no society can question them,&quot; the bench said.

The three-judge Supreme Court bench&nbsp;rapped the Centre for failure in controlling attacks on love marriages and diktats of khap panchayats.

The Supreme Court warned the centre that if it &quot;does not act towards banning Khap Panchayats, then the court will step in&quot;.

The court listed the matter for&nbsp;further hearing on February 5.

The top court had earlier sought suggestions from an NGO &#39;Shakti Vahini&#39;, the amicus curiae and khap panchayats on the matter.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
The top court had also said that as a pilot project, it would examine the situation in three districts of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh where khap panchayats were active.

Khaps are caste or community organisations in villages which at times act as quasi-judicial bodies and pronounce harsh punishments based on regressive and age-old customs and traditions.

The NGO had moved the top court in 2010 seeking directions to the central and state governments to prevent and control honour crimes by taking a number of measures.

The Centre had pleaded with the top court to put in place a mechanism to monitor crimes against women by khap panchayats, as the police was not able to protect women facing ordeal at their hands.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Supreme Court warned the centre that if it 'does not act towards banning khap panchayats, then the court will step in'

The Supreme Court of India today termed as "absolutely illegal" any attack by khap panchayats or associations against adult men and women opting for inter-caste marriages. "Whenever there is any kind of collective attack on a boy or girl who are adult, it is absolutely illegal," the bench said. The top court said that if an adult man and a woman got married, no khap, panchayat or society could question them. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud asked the Centre for its response on suggestions earlier given by amicus curiae (friend of the court) Raju Ramachandran on ways to prevent harassment and killing of young couples in the name of family honour for marrying out of their caste or clan (gotra). "Whatever the amicus curiae says about khap, we are not concerned with that. What we are concerned is that if an adult girl or boy gets into marriage, no khap, no individual or no society can question them," the bench said. The three-judge Supreme Court bench rapped the Centre for failure in controlling attacks on love marriages and diktats of khap panchayats. The Supreme Court warned the centre that if it "does not act towards banning Khap Panchayats, then the court will step in". The court listed the matter for further hearing on February 5. The top court had earlier sought suggestions from an NGO 'Shakti Vahini', the amicus curiae and khap panchayats on the matter. The top court had also said that as a pilot project, it would examine the situation in three districts of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh where khap panchayats were active. Khaps are caste or community organisations in villages which at times act as quasi-judicial bodies and pronounce harsh punishments based on regressive and age-old customs and traditions. The NGO had moved the top court in 2010 seeking directions to the central and state governments to prevent and control honour crimes by taking a number of measures. The Centre had pleaded with the top court to put in place a mechanism to monitor crimes against women by khap panchayats, as the police was not able to protect women facing ordeal at their hands. (With inputs from agencies)

Attacks by khap panchayats over inter-caste marriages 'absolutely illegal': Supreme Court

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