Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on an indefinite fast at Khanauri border of Delhi for 34 days. On Sunday night, he made a video and appealed to the people to reach Khanauri border in large numbers. The people present with him expressed apprehension that a large number of Haryana Police had reached near the protest site and at any time Jagjit Singh Dallewal could be forcibly taken from there. The volunteers present there have further increased the security cover of Dallewal. Also, all the farmer leaders are appealing to the people through social media platforms to reach Khanauri border in maximum numbers.

Farmer leaders say that they are continuing their protest in a Gandhian manner and it is up to the government whether it wants to use force to remove their senior leader (Dallewal). This statement of farmer leaders has come amid strong criticism of the Punjab government by the Supreme Court for not admitting Dallewal to the hospital.

Farmers are protesting at the Punjab-Haryana border to put pressure on the Center over several demands, including legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

Recently, a high-level team of Punjab government officials met Dallewal and requested him to seek medical treatment even if he wanted to continue his fast. Dallewal has so far refused to undergo treatment.

At the Khanauri border protest site, farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar said, “We want to make it clear that the Center has been trying to defame and suppress our movement since day one. Such a story is being created that the farmers are stubborn. Whereas the Center itself is adopting such (stubborn) attitude, is not listening to us and is not paying any attention to the demands of the farmers.”

The farmer leader said, “We are continuing our movement by adopting Gandhian principles. Our movement has proved that despite suffering so much due to the atrocities of the government, we are continuing to protest in a Gandhian way. Now it is up to the government and constitutional institutions whether they want to use force to remove Dallewal ji.”

He said that the farmers want to make it clear that whatever situation arises, it will be the responsibility of the Center and constitutional institutions. We also want to appeal to the people of the country that the movement demanding guarantee of MSP has reached the decisive stage. We are on the way to victory. We must adopt a strong stance. Dallewal has even put his life at stake. Kohar said that it depends on the people of the country whether they stay at home or reach the Khanauri border in large numbers in support of Dallewal.

Meanwhile, SKM (non-political) leader Kaka Singh said that the government may try to remove Dallewal from the protest site and his union is appealing to Punjabis to reach Khanauri in maximum numbers. He also said that Dallewal has made it clear that he is ready to sacrifice his life for the sake of the farmers of this country.

Meanwhile, farmers have called for ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’ at the Khanauri protest site on January 4. Also, Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have also called for Punjab bandh on Monday and claimed that their bandh call has received strong support from transporters, employees, traders and other sections of the society.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said that there will be a complete bandh on Monday, but emergency services will continue. He said that the Center is not ready to listen to the demands of the farmers. The bandh will be from 7 am to 4 pm. However, emergency services will continue. Apart from this, all those going to the airport to catch a flight or giving a job interview or attending a wedding ceremony have been excluded from the bandh call.

Meanwhile, a high-level team of Punjab government officials met Dallewal at the Khanauri border point on Sunday. This team included Deputy Inspector General of Police Mandeep Singh Sidhu and retired Additional DGP Jaskaran Singh.

Later, farmer leaders said that Dallewal had refused to take any medical help. Answering a question, he said that if the team comes with any other proposal then they will look at the proposal.

Expressing unhappiness with the Punjab government on Saturday, the Supreme Court also expressed the possibility that other farmer leaders might not have allowed Dallewal to be taken to the hospital.

In response, Dallewal said in a video message the same day, “I am sitting on a fast. Who gave this report to the Supreme Court and who spread this misconception that I have been held hostage? Where did such a thing come from? In this country there are seven Lakhs of farmers have committed suicide due to debt. It is necessary to save the farmers, so I am not under anyone’s pressure.

Dallewal had earlier said that he would not break his fast until the government agreed to the demands of the farmers. The Supreme Court has given the Punjab government time till December 31 to get Dallewal admitted to the hospital, and has also asked the state to seek assistance from the Center if needed.

In response, the Punjab government told the court that it was facing opposition from the protesting farmers, who had surrounded Dallewal and were preventing him from being taken to the hospital.

Dallewal has refused treatment and the state government has formed a team of doctors to monitor his health round the clock.

Farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after being stopped from entering Delhi by security forces.