Agitating farmers on Saturday announced a Kisan Mahapanchayat scheduled for January 4 at the Khanauri protest site in connection with their various demands. This follows a call for a Punjab bandh on December 30 by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. The developments come as the Supreme Court has reprimanded the Punjab government for failing to ensure the hospitalization of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for over a month.
Kaka Singh Kotda, a leader from SKM (non-political), stated that the 70-year-old Dallewal is on an indefinite fast, which has now reached its 33rd day. Kotda said that the upcoming Mahapanchayat will draw farmers from various states.
The Supreme Court, on December 28, reprimanded the Punjab government and said that other farmer leaders may have stopped Dallewal from receiving medical treatment. In response, Dallewal released a video message asserting his commitment to the hunger strike. He questioned the reports suggesting he was being held against his will.
Seven lakh farmers have died of suicide: Dallewal
Dallewal said that seven lakh farmers have died of suicide due to debt, and he is determined to fight for their rights. He has written to the Supreme Court requesting intervention to ensure the government meets farmers' demands, including a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) on crops.
Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohad said that Dallewal might address the Mahapanchayat, reiterating Dallewal's stance of continuing his fast until the government fulfills the demands. The Supreme Court has given the Punjab government until December 31 to convince Dallewal to seek medical care, allowing them to involve the Central government if necessary.
Despite the Punjab government’s claims of resistance from protesting farmers preventing Dallewal's hospitalization, a high-level team of officials has attempted to persuade him to accept medical treatment. Dallewal has so far declined, while a team of doctors has been assigned to monitor his health continuously. The farmers continue to protest for various demands, including a legal guarantee for the minimum support price, and have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders since February 13 after being stopped from entering Delhi.
Prakash Kumar Pandey
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