With the condition of the farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal turned critical on Thursday, the Supreme Court again reprimanded the Punjab government for not taking the required steps and providing medical assistance to the farmer leader.
Continuing hearing on the issue of farmers’ protest for the second consecutive day on Thursday, the Supreme Court has asked the Punjab Government to take immediate steps and persuade Dallewal to take treatment for a week and other farmers can continue their protest.
Dallewal, who has been on an indefinite fast at Khanauri border for the past 22 days fell unconscious on Thursday and recovered after 10 minutes.
“No one is trying to uproot farmers’ protest, we are only trying to ensure the safety of their leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal. Court will talk to Dallewal once he is safe,” A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan said observing that no one was trying to uproot the farmers’ protest, it only wanted to ensure Dallewal’s safety, calling him a “mass leader”.
The court asked Punjab advocate general Gurminder Singh to persuade Dallewal to take medical treatment for a week at least saying others could continue with the protest. However, Singh has sought a day’s time to convince Dallewal. Then bench posted the matter on December 20.
As per the farmer leaders Dallewal fainted briefly when he was coming out from his camp to take a bath and he also vomited. The farmers around him wrapped him in the blanket and he regained consciousness after 10 minutes
Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar said that Dallewal’s condition has become extremely critical as on the 24th day of his hunger strike. “His condition is very serious and all supporters are urged to gather at the Khanauri Morcha in large numbers and maintain peace during their presence”, he added. The Supreme Court urged the Punjab Government and the Centre to provide immediate medical help to Dallewal and convince him to end his agitation for his life’s sake. The Court suggested that Dallewal may be shifted to PGI Chandigarh or nearby hospital for urgent medical intervention, if the need arose.
On the other hand several Khap Panchayats of Haryana have also extended their support to the farmers and decided to hold a Maha Panchayat in Hisar on December 29 in support of the ongoing agitation.
Dallewal has been on a fast-unto-death at Khanauri border between Punjab and Haryana since November 26 to press the Centre into accepting the agitating farmers’ demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) on crops.
Farmers agitation enters in Haryana as the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) President Gurnam Singh Charuni has decided to hold protests at all district headquarters in the state on December 20.
As per the information the call was given in support of ongoing protests at Khanauri and Shambhu borders by farmers. Recently, BKU president Gurnam Singh Charuni had visited the Khanauri border and met farmer leader Dallewal, who is on a fast unto death for the past 22 days.
On the other hand Congress MPs from Haryana including Deepender Hooda, Jayaprakash (JP), Satpal Brahmachari, and Varun Mulana along with several Congress MLAs from Haryana also visited Khanauri border and inquired about the health of Dallewal. During the visit Deepender hailed Dallewal for risking his life in the interest of the farmers and the country. Deepender had earlier raised the issue of the farmers’ agitation in Parliament.
