Taking a note of the deteriorating health of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal that the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Punjab government to extend him immediate medical aid, asserting that it will have serious repercussions if something untoward happened to him.
Hearing Haryana’s plea against Punjab and Haryana High Court’s direction to open the Shambhu Border between the States of Punjab and Haryana, which was blocked since February 13, the apex court underlined the value of human life and has cautioned Punjab government on the repercussions if anything untoward happens. The supreme court’s directions came a day after farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal refused to talk with a committee formed by the supreme court to resolve the farmers issue.
“He (Dallewal) is a public personality and a non-political leader of the masses, he represents farmers’ interests. Need to look at the very serious repercussions. The entire state machinery will be blamed time is critical in this case”, observed the bench led by Justice Surya Kant, emphasizing that as an elected government and constitutional organ, it would not like to invite this blame that because of something has happened.
Reacting to the remarks to the Punjab AG’s submission that Dallewal has refused medical help saying that 700000 farmers’ lives are more important to him than his own, the court observed that he needs to be healthy to agitate, even farmers should be concerned about saving his life.
On Punjab Advocate General’s reply that Dallewal and other farmer leaders have refused to hold talks with the committee of experts formed by the supreme court, the bench observed, “we clarify that Court’s doors are always open and any suggestion.
or demand charter by the farmers directly or through their authorized representative can be brought on record. It will be given due consideration alongwith discussion with all stakeholders”.
“We have set up a Committee that is doing excellent work. We believe the right time will come to urge different stakeholders to take action. That time has not arrived yet. How much we will succeed is hard to predict now, but we will make every effort. We will try to ensure that any genuine demands are presented to all stakeholders for action. But saving Dallewal’s life should not depend on these actions,” the judge said as the matter is scheduled for tomorrow at 2 PM.
Regarding the medical assistance to Dallewal the court has also observed that it will leave it upon state authorities to take necessary steps and ensure that medical aid, as per doctor’s advice, is provided to Dallewal without any delay. However, the bench requested farmers to not act under peer pressure and called on them to take account of the health of their leader, who needs to be healthy in order to be able to agitate the cause of masses.
During the hearing the Punjab Advocate General also requested for an assurance from the appropriate government that farmers’ demands will be considered, assuring that Punjab government will also try to defuse the situation.
Reacting to the supreme court’s directions, farmer leaders, in a statement said, ““We humbly wish to convey to the Hon’ble Supreme Court that Jagjit Singh Dallewal is compelled to undertake a hunger strike due to the government’s breach of promises. If the central government fulfills the commitments made to us, there would be no need for Dallewal to go on an indefinite hunger strike.”
The farmer leaders also urged the Supreme Court to direct the central government to respect the sentiments of both the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture and the farmers by enacting a law guaranteeing MSP.
Earlier in September, the Court constituted a High-Powered Committee to hold negotiations with the farmers who are protesting at the Shambhu border.
Protesting for their pending demands including an act to guarantee Minimum Support Price, hundreds of farmers led by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after they were stopped by the Haryana police leading to the blockade of the key highways connecting Haryana and Punjab.
