Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s health deteriorates; ‘condition critical, immediate action needed,’ warns doctor

“He has denied medical treatment so we cannot forcefully administer treatment,” Dr Avtar Singh, a doctor from the NGO who examined Dallewal, said. “We are rubbing his hands and feet and have elevated his legs by placing pillows. His condition is critical…as we cannot provide treatment, we are managing in whatever way we can,” Singh said.

Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s pulse rate in the morning was 62 and blood pressure was 92/58, doctors at the protest site said. (Express Photo)

Government authorities revealed that emergency teams are on standby with one team keeping watch close to the stage where Dallewal is fasting and another around 2 km away. “As of now, things are under control,” a senior medical officer of the Punjab Health Department told The Indian Express.

Dallewal’s pulse rate in the morning was 62 and blood pressure was 92/58, doctors at the protest site said.

On Monday, after meeting the Supreme Court-appointed committee’s chief, retired Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Justice Nawab Singh, Dallewal had said that the panel should urge the court to issue a directive to the Centre. “The Union minister (Shivraj Singh Chouhan) says if the SC tells them, they will comply. If SC is not ready to give this direction to the Centre, then we do not have hope from anywhere,” Dallewal had said.

Farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points since February 13 last year after they were prevented from marching to Delhi. The farmers have been protesting over several demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops.

The Supreme Court has asked the Punjab government to move Dallewal to a hospital and has said that it is not satisfied with the efforts taken to comply with its order. The next date of hearing is on January 10.