Sitting on fast-unto-death of my own free will, not kept hostage: Punjab farmer leader Dallewal

The farmer leader, who heads the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political), added, “Seven lakh farmers of this country have committed suicide due to debt. It is necessary to save farmers, therefore, I am sitting here. I am not under anyone’s pressure”.

Earlier in the day, during a hearing in the Supreme Court, Punjab Advocate General (AG) Gurminder Singh pleaded inability to shift Dallewal to due to opposition from protesters at the site. The AG submitted that the protesters had called upon the youth to gather at the protest site to thwart any attempt to move Dallewal and were maintaining 24×7 vigil.

On this the top court admonished the Punjab government saying that it appears that the state government itself does not want Dallewal to receive any medical aid. It further questioned the the protesters asking what kind of leaders were they if they were allowing Dallewal to die. “Their intention is questionable,” the top court said.

In his message, however, Dallewal said he had written a letter to the Supreme Court, requesting it to direct the Centre to accept the farmers’ demands, including a legal guarantee of the minimum support price on crops.

“Instead of giving directions to the central government to implement the demands of the farmers, the Supreme Court has directed the Punjab government to forcibly admit me to the hospital, and if needed state should seek support from Centre…People approach the Supreme Court when they need justice…what kind of sympathy the court is showing to me and the protesting farmers…I once again appeal to the SC with folded hands to direct the Centre to enact the MSP Guarantee Act,” he added.

Meanwhile, the protesting farmers called for a “Kisan Mahapanchayat” at the Khanauri protest site on January 4.

SKM (Non-political) leader Kaka Singh Kotra, said, “On January 4 at Khanauri, we will hold a Kisan Mahapanchayat in which farmers from various states will participate. Dallewal ji will address the mahapanchayat”.

Fixing December 31 as next date for hearing, the vacation bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Surya Kant said it was satisfied with the efforts made by the Punjab government towards compliance of its earlier orders. “We are inclined to grant more time to take appropriate steps in furtherance of the directions issued from time to time. If Punjab requires any assistance, we direct the Centre to provide requisite logistic support for the compliance of our direction,” the bench said and indicated that it will not hesitate to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the Punjab chief secretary and director general of police if its order is not given effect to without further delay.

Abhimanu Kohar, a farmer leader from Haryana, said, “After the top court hearing, we are apprehending that there can be efforts to overpower the Khanauri morcha. So we once again appeal to the young volunteers from Punjab, Haryana and other states to guard the morcha well so that no one can enter the protest site forcibly take Dallewalji to the hospital”.

Baldev Singh Sirsa, another SKM (non-political) leader said,” We have made it clear to the Punjab government delegation that if Dallewalji is forcibly taken away, the government will be responsible for the consequences”.

Meanwhile, a high-level team of Punjab government officials again called on Dallewal requesting him to accept medical treatment even if he wishes to continue with his fast. Dallewal has so far refused medical treatment and the state government has formed a team of doctors to monitor his health round-the-clock.

The team which also comprises Deputy Inspector General of Police Mandeep Singh Sidhu told Dallewal that he could choose a place and he would only be given the required medical support.

While it continues to hold dialogue, the Punjab government has indicated that it may use force as last option to shift Dallewal to hospital. “We are waiting for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to return from Australia. We will discuss the matter with him and take a call. For now, we are planning to send a delegation of political leaders to meet Dallewal and make him see reason,” said a government official. .

A team of police officers, including Patiala DIG Mandeep Sidhu, is in touch with the farmers and had been able to get Dallewal’s vitals checked by government doctors. The official said the government still has two days. “Talks work, but Dallewal is adamant.

We will have to make him see reason that if police force is used, then there may be some losses”.

Mann is likely to hold a meeting with Chief Secretary KAP Sinha and DGP Gaurav Yadav on Sunday.