On Saturday, a vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia granted the Punjab government until December 31 to persuade Jagjit Singh Dallewal to move to a hospital. The Supreme Court also permitted the state government to seek logistical assistance from the Centre if necessary.
Khanauri (Punjab): Security arrangements have been heightened at the ongoing Khanauri Kisan Morcha to safeguard farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal amid his hunger strike. This follows the Supreme Court’s directive to the Punjab government to provide medical aid to Dallewal by December 31.
Sukhjeet Singh Hardojhande, a farmer leader and the security in-charge at the protest site, stated,
“Dallewal Ji strongly believes that the Punjab government may attempt to break his hunger strike under the Supreme Court’s direction to provide medical aid. In response, we have reinforced security at Khanauri Kisan Morcha.”
He further added,
“An additional security layer will be deployed, and multiple checkpoints will be set up. According to our intelligence, Central and State agencies might infiltrate the Morcha to enforce medical aid and end the hunger strike. To counter this non-violently, over 5,000 volunteers are arriving at the Khanauri Border.”
Abhimanyu Kohar, another prominent leader at the protest, urged farmers nationwide to join the Khanauri Kisan Morcha in solidarity with Dallewal.
He warned, “If any government attempts to detain our leaders, they will have to face the ultimate resistance from farmers.”
Kohar also questioned the Supreme Court’s approach, stating,
“Why has the Supreme Court not directed the Central Government to meet the farmers’ demands? Both Parliamentary and Supreme Court committees have recommended a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), yet the Central Government ignores these recommendations. Instead of targeting farmers, the Supreme Court should direct the Central Government to act.”
Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on hunger strike for 34 days, demanding a legal guarantee for MSP on 24 crops.
On Saturday, a vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia granted the Punjab government until December 31 to persuade Jagjit Singh Dallewal to move to a hospital. The Supreme Court also permitted the state government to seek logistical assistance from the Centre if necessary.
During the hearing, the Punjab government expressed its inability to act, citing significant resistance from protesting farmers surrounding Dallewal and preventing his transfer to a hospital. The bench questioned the actions of some farmer leaders accompanying Dallewal, calling their conduct surprising and questionable.
In a video message the same day, Dallewal refuted these claims, stating, “I am on a hunger strike. Who informed the Supreme Court that I am being held hostage? Who spread such misinformation? There is no such thing.”
He further emphasized, “Seven lakh farmers in this country have taken their own lives due to debt. Saving farmers is crucial, and that is why I am here. I am under no pressure from anyone.”
Dallewal has consistently maintained he will not end his fast until the government addresses the farmers’ demands. These include a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), a debt waiver, pensions for farmers and agricultural laborers, no increase in electricity tariffs, withdrawal of police cases, and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence during previous farmer protests.
The Punjab government has deployed a team of doctors to monitor Dallewal’s health continuously. Reports indicate his condition has worsened, with a significant drop in blood pressure.
On Saturday, Ladakhi climate activist Sonam Wangchuk visited Dallewal at the Khanauri protest site, offering solidarity.
Wangchuk, who had previously undertaken a 16-day hunger strike to advocate for discussions on Ladakh’s administration, shared his support, saying, “I am here to convey the good wishes and warm support of the people of Ladakh.”
Earlier this month, a group of 101 farmers attempted three separate marches to Delhi on foot between December 6 and 14, but Haryana’s security forces stopped them. Similar attempts on February 13 and February 21 this year also led to clashes between protesters and security personnel.
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