The Punjab Police Chief and a senior official of the Union Home Ministry met the hunger strike leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Sunday and inquired about his health.
Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav and Home Ministry Director General Mayank Mishra reached Khanauri Naka and met Mr. Dallewal. His demand was also heard. Mr. Dallewal, 70, a cancer patient, is on a hunger strike to pressurize the Center to accept the demands of the agitating farmers at the Khanuri border crossing in Punjab and Haryana with minimum legal guarantees. Support price (MSP) for crops.
Their visit came two days after the Supreme Court directed representatives of the Center and Punjab governments to meet Mr. Dallewal immediately. The Supreme Court also directed the farmer leader to provide medical aid and persuade him to break his indefinite fast saying that his life is precious.
Talking to media persons after the meeting, Yadav said, ‘We have come to inquire about Dallewal’s health condition. “I have Mayank Mishra, a representative of the Government of India, who was specially sent here,” he said.
Mishra said, ‘We have heard his (Dallewal) demand. In response to a question, he said, ‘No proposal has come, I have come to listen to him and to implement the order of the Supreme Court.
“We have appealed to Dallewal saying that his way of leading a peaceful movement is universally appreciated. And the government has also understood that,” said DGP Yadav. He said that according to the order of the Supreme Court, Mr. Dallewal will be assured of providing emergency health services.
“The Chief Minister has sent a special message and our efforts are to negotiate on their demand and resolve this issue,” the DGP said.
“We have appealed to the farmers that Dallewal’s life is precious, medical facilities have been provided here and we are taking initiatives to solve the problem in coordination with them,” he said.
“The Supreme Court has said that Dallewal is a senior citizen, he has some health problems and thirdly, he is a prominent farmer leader,” Yadav said. He said that a state-of-the-art ambulance is kept here.
“We are continuously talking to farmer leaders and we hope to reach a positive result,” he said.
To another question, Yadav said that the Punjab government has a clear stand and considers and supports the demands of the farmers. ‘We have tried to give him those facilities. It is the Punjab government’s effort to ease the demands of the farmers,” the DGP said.
Farmers under the banner of the United Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Mandal have been camping since February 13 at the Shambhu and Khanuri borders between Punjab and Haryana after security forces stopped their movement towards Delhi.
At the Shambhu border, Haryana security personnel foiled three attempts by farmers to march to Delhi on foot.
Apart from legal guarantee on MSP for crops, the farmers are demanding loan waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no increase in electricity charges, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for victims of 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
Restoration of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 and compensation to the families of farmers who lost their lives during the previous agitation in 2020-21 are also part of their demands.
published – December 16, 2024 at 12:53 pm IST