New DelhiThe Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the Punjab government to persuade the state government to conduct a health check-up of the farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on indefinite hunger strike at the Punjab-Haryana Khanauri border. Irom Sharmila continued her agitation under the supervision of a doctor.
The Supreme Court has assured the Kisan leader that the bench will talk to him once he is safe.
The 70-year-old farmer leader has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past three weeks.
A bench of Justices Suryakant and Ujwal Bhiwan said that no one was trying to uproot the farmers’ movement, calling Dallewal a “people’s leader” and wanted to ensure security.
“Take the case of civil rights activist Irom Sharmila, she continued her agitation for years under medical supervision, similarly, Dallewal can continue her agitation under medical supervision,” said Judge Bhuyan.
Taking into account the Punjab government doctors’ statement that Mr. Dallewal was fine even without basic health check-up, the bench said: “How is a person above 70 years of age who is on fast for the last 21 days and suffering from various health problems. Can you do his blood test, ECG test and necessary investigations?” Could it be?”
“The court will speak to him (Jagjit Singh Dallewal) after it is satisfied that he is safe,” added Justice Surya Kant.
The farmer leader reportedly said through the Punjab authorities that he wanted to address the court.
The Supreme Court asked Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh to persuade Mr Dallewal to undergo treatment for at least a week before others could continue protesting.
Mr. Singh asked for a day to convince Dallewal and express the court’s sentiments to ensure his health.
The bench then took up the case on December 20.
Dallewal has been on an indefinite hunger strike since November 26 to pressure the Center to accept the demands of the agitating farmers, including a legal guarantee of the minimum support price of crops.
Farmers under the banners of the United Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdar Morcha have been camping since February 13 at the Shambhu and Khanuri borders between Punjab and Haryana after the police stopped their march towards Delhi.
The Haryana government erected barricades on the Ambala-New Delhi national highway in February after farmers announced a march to Delhi in support of their demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP for their produce.