Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav along with Home Ministry Director Mayank Mishra met Bharati Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur) president Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Sunday afternoon as he entered the 20th day of his fast. Mishra told reporters that he had come there to meet Dallewal and listen to the demands of the farmers as directed by the Supreme Court of India.
It is noteworthy that in its order on Friday, the Supreme Court had directed the state and central governments to provide medical aid to Dallewal and persuade him to end his hunger strike to save his life.
After the meeting, Yadav said that the Supreme Court recognized Dallewal as a senior citizen and an important farmer leader. He added, the government should ensure his welfare as his life is important to address agricultural issues.
Yadav said that according to the instructions of the court, state-of-the-art ambulance and other medical facilities have been arranged at the protest site. He said that the administration and police officers are in regular contact with the farmers.
Despite repeated appeals by the MHA director and the Punjab DGP, Dallewal has so far refused medical help. Yadav also said that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has opened communication channels with the central government to renegotiate with the agitating farmers.
Meanwhile, the leaders of Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) are trying to meet the Punjab Governor to discuss the issue. Dr. Darshan Pal, a member of SKM’s National Coordination Committee, said The Indian Express“We will contact the Punjab governor on Monday to address them Farmers’ demand On the border of Shambhu and Khanuri. Dallewalji’s life is paramount. The Governor should coordinate with the Center and initiate dialogue with the farmers. The demands of the protesting unions in Shambhu and Khanuri are similar to the demands of SKM, although our methods of agitation are different.”
Separately, Sarvan Singh Pandher, coordinator of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, has written to the SKM leadership and urged them to work in a united struggle on common demands.
Among others, Congress MP Dharamvir Gandhi, former Congress MLAs Pargat Singh and Kushaldeep Singh Kiki Dhillon, former Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat and her husband Somvir Rathi, and AAP Cabinet Minister Barinder Goyal visited Dallewal to express their support.
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