The farmers are demanding that the Centre hold talks with them within 10 days to resolve their issues. He said the central government has not held any talks with them on their issues since February 18. He reiterated that the protesting farmers will march towards Delhi on 6 December 2024. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had already announced plans to intensify their agitation in support of various demands of farmers, including a legal guarantee for MSP, by launching a fast unto death. The farmers have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after security forces stopped them from marching towards Delhi.
Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Wednesday again accused the Punjab government of forcibly taking away farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal from the Khanauri border. Pandher also said that farmer leader Sukhjit Singh Hardojhande is sitting on a fast unto death in place of Dallewal. Pandher said, “Sukhjit’s fast unto death has entered the second day.” Dallewal, who began a fast unto death on Tuesday over the demands of farmers, was allegedly forcibly removed from the Khanauri border and taken to a hospital in Ludhiana for check-up on Tuesday. Taking a dig at the Bhagwant Mann government, Pandher on Wednesday said that the state government failed in its attempt to “fail” their agitation by removing Dallewal.
He further said that he was not aware of Dallewal’s condition. He said, “What is his condition? No one is clarifying.” Pandher said the state government has not yet given any information about the forcible removal of Dallewal from the Khanauri border. “The Punjab chief minister should tell the people of the state about yesterday’s incident (removal of Dallewal) and why it was done,” he said. Pandher asked people to reach the Khanauri border in large numbers. The farmer leader also said they will see if MPs raise issues of legal guarantee of MSP on crops, farm loan waiver in the ongoing Parliament session. Dallewal (70) was taken to Ludhiana’s Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) for a medical check-up on Tuesday after he was allegedly forcibly removed from the protest site at the Khanauri border. Deputy Inspector General of Police Mandeep Singh Sidhu said on Tuesday that the administration was concerned about Dallewal’s age and health in view of his hunger strike.
The protesting farmers have accused the Centre of not taking steps to meet their demands and said the Centre has not held any talks with them on their issues since February 18.
