Dallewal’s Health Worsens while Farmers’ Vow Wave of Protests
Farmers’ leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal at Khanauri Border. Image credit Bhawna Malik
Unions Join Hands in Solidarity with Farmers’ Protests
By Bhawna Malik
Chandigarh, December 25: The fast-onto-death by farmers’ leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal entered 31st day on Thursday. The Farmers Protest 2.0 that began on 13th February has also completed 316 days at Shambhu, Khanauri and Ratanpura borders.
Farmer leaders have given a call for Punjab Bandh. “Please do not worry about me. The fight must continue. I appeal to all farmers’ unions in Punjab and other states and also my countrymen to join this protest,’ Dallewal said in a message on Wednesday.
The farmers’ leader stated “if we do not give up, we will win”. “The government should not be successful in removing us from the borders — Khanauri, Shambhu and other places. If we stand united, we will win,” added Dallewal.
He is on a protest at the Khanauri Border. Dallewal addressed farmers on Wednesday while doctors are growing concerned at his health parameters. The doctors monitoring him raised an alarm on his health.
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Though physically weak, his spirit seems high. On 24th December at the Khanauri Border, Dallewal said: “In 2021, some farmers said that we left the farmers’ protest without any logical conclusion. Now, this hunger strike is my answer to them. Even if I die, no one will give up on the protests.”
Dallewal started his fast-unto-death on 26th November. His demands include MSP (Minimum Support Price), pension and debt waivers of the farmers, ball that had been promised by the Central Government. Besides other promises made by the Centre during several rounds of talks with farmers at Chandigarh. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had mediated the talks between the Centre and the leaders of the farmers’ union.
On 20th December, Dallewal fainted for 10 minutes and his blood pressure, pulse rates and oxygen level were reportedly found to have been low. Dr Avtar Singh gave an update on Dallewal’s, saying: “His BP is 114/70 while continuously fluctuating, oxygen level is 98%, pulse is 80/min and his body temperature is 97.3F. His immunity is very low, body muscles are weak while there being weight loss. Both the kidneys have been affected due to prolonged hunger and his vitals too have signs of giving up.”
The farmer unions at the Shambhu Border under the leadership of Sarwan Singh Pandher have made three attempts to march to the national capital. The Haryana Police resorted to tear gas shelling and use of water cannons to turn the farmer away.
‘Farmers are protesting against non-fulfilment of promises by Govt’
Pandher came out strongly after Dallewal’s health parameters deteriorated and called upon all the farmers’ unions across the country to join the protest and also participate in rail roko, making highways toll free, and Punjab Bandh on December 30.
Kisan Mazdur Morcha and Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) have jointly announced that several unions will join farmers’ protests at the Khanauri Border on Thursday. Unions of Anganwadi workers, Asha workers, truck operators, students, transport workers, Punjab Road Transport, Punjab private bus union, Patwari union, computer operator union, college professors, labourers, thellawals, bhatha mazdur, auto drivers, nambardars, arhati workers, and many more have announced their support for protests at the Khanauri Border.
The Union leaders are accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the alleged anti-farmers policies of the Centre for the farmers holding protests at the Punjab-Haryana border points. The SKM and KMM assigned hundreds of ‘jathebandis (regional groups)’ with specific tasks and itinerary for coordinated protests of the farmers.
“On Friday, December 27, an awareness drive regarding issues of farmers will begin that would cover all the leading zones of Punjab such as Amritsar, Taran Taran, Jallandhar, Bhatinda, Gurdaspur, Ludhiana, Patiala, Mohali, Ropar, Hoshiarpur, Mansa, Ferozepur, Batala, and Pathankot,” said Pandher.
He said that Punjab bandh will be observed on December 30. “If anything happens to Dallewal sahib, the government will be held responsible. No one from the AAP government in Punjab and the Central Government has tried to sensitively tackle this issue or made an effort to offer a solution,” Pandher further added.
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