Amid the ongoing farmers’ protests and the deteriorating health of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, protesting farmers have announced a “Kisan Mahapanchayat” on January 4 at the Khanauri protest site. The gathering will see participation from farmers across various states, as they continue their fight for demands such as a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP). The announcement was made by farmer leader Kaka Singh Kotra, who confirmed that the health of Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for over a month, remains critical.
The call for the Mahapanchayat follows growing concerns over Dallewal’s condition. Dallewal, 70, has been fasting since November 26 at Khanauri, pressing the government to meet the farmers’ demands. His indefinite hunger strike entered its 33rd day on Saturday. On the same day, the Supreme Court intervened in the matter, reprimanding the Punjab government for not moving Dallewal to a hospital despite his worsening health. The court gave the Punjab government a deadline until December 31 to make efforts to persuade Dallewal to seek medical treatment, with the option of seeking logistical support from the Centre if needed.
The Supreme Court’s comments further heightened tensions, with the Punjab government expressing difficulty in handling the situation due to the resistance from protesting farmers, who have reportedly prevented Dallewal’s transfer to a hospital. Responding to the court’s intervention, Dallewal denied claims that he was being held hostage and stated that the information was false.
Earlier, two major farmers’ groups, Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, had also called for a Punjab bandh on December 30, intensifying the ongoing protests in the region.
