I Must Make Sacrifice for Cause of Farmers: Dallewal
Farmers’ leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal Image credit Bhawna Malik
Dallewal Exhorts Farmers to Press Ahead with Protests
By Bhawna Malik
Chandigarh, January 11: Farmers’ leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal stays steadfast in his resolve to press ahead with fast unto death even while his health conditions continue to deteriorate. In a message to farmers, Dallewal exhorted that they need not worry about him and stay firm in their protests.
“I must sacrifice for this cause. …don’t worry about my life. The movement must continue,’ Dallewal said in a message to the farmers at the Khanauri Border in Punjab. His voice was fainting and he struggled to speak.
Dallewal is holding fast unto death since November 26 last year. He will complete 50 days of fast unto death within a few days. He fainted twice within a week and his blood pressure dropped to 60, said supporters at the Khanouri Border.
Dallewal’s Health Worsens while Farmers’ Vow Wave of Protests
The team of the doctors monitoring him expressed apprehensions that his conditions have become precarious. They are hoping the Dallewal will end his protest soon as vitals are dipping fast.
Dallewal’s deteriorating health conditions have been noted by the Supreme Court, which directed a medical team to check on him. The court said that while it’s his right to protest his fast must end given his age and health conditions.
Determined to continue his fast, Dallewal urged the people and all the farmers’ unions to join and continue with protests in all parts of the country. Dallewal said: “I have been informed that the Punjab unit of the BJP is planning to meet the Jathedar Sahib of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and through him the party may try to end my fast. But I request the Punjab unit of the BJP to meet PM Narendra Modi and persuade him to intervene and resolve the issue of the farmers.”
He also asked the “BJP leaders to meet Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar, Union Minister for Agriculture and farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chauhan and also Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah to step in and give farmers their rightful dues”.
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After the Punjab Bandh on December 30, the farmers organised Mahapanchayat at Moga in Punjab on January 9. The unions collectively decided to join and continue with the protest demanding MSP (Minimum Support Price) for crops, debt waiver, and pension for farmers.
The farmers reached Moga on their tractors, trollyes, buses and car. Senior SKM leader Prem Singh Bhangu confirmed that it was unanimously decided at the Mahapanchayat that “on 13th January the copies of the draft of the National agriculture marketing policy will be burnt and on 26th January a tractor march will be taken out across Punjab”.
“Our target should be the Central Government and its pro–corporate policies. A six member delegation along with 101 farmers’ jatha will reach Khanauri Border,” stated farmers’ leader Joginder Singh Ughraha.
Earlier, the farmers’ delegation of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, including BKU Ugrahan Chief Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Darshan Pal and BKU Rajewal chief Balbir Singh Rajewl reached Khanauri Border to meet Dallewal. The delegation carried with it the ‘Ekta Mata’, the ‘letter of unity’ from all the forums.
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After meeting Dallewal, all the three forums of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) decided to meet again on January 15 in Patiala in Punjab. The forums claimed that a “unified struggle of Kisan Andolan 2.0 will be carried forward”.
“The Central Government is trying to sell a myth that the farmers’ unions are divided. But all the unions have gathered together and put forth a unified front. We request all to join this cause as this is not a personal fight of Dallewal,” said SKM non-political leader Kotra.
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