Khanauri, January 4: Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for 39 days, has urged farmers to gather at Khanauri on Saturday to intensify the ongoing demand for a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
In a video message released Friday, Dallewal appealed for nationwide support. “I urge everyone who stands with us to come to Khanauri. I want to see you all,” he said in the 70-second statement. The call aligns with a previously planned Kisan Mahapanchayat by farmer organizations.
Protesters under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have maintained camps at Khanauri and Shambhu since February 2024, following a thwarted march to Delhi by security forces.
Dallewal, 70, has refused medical aid despite severe health deterioration caused by his prolonged fast. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said Thursday that government doctors are monitoring his condition, but efforts to persuade him to accept treatment have been unsuccessful.
Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar shared that Dallewal plans to deliver a brief yet crucial message during Saturday’s gathering. “He will address the gathering for two to three minutes to convey something important,” Kohar stated.
Sarwan Singh Pandher, a senior leader spearheading the agitation, criticized the central government’s indifference. “The Centre continues to ignore our demands, refusing to engage in dialogue,” he remarked.
The escalating protest at Khanauri marks a pivotal moment in the farmers’ push for MSP legislation, as leaders accuse the BJP-led central government of adopting an uncompromising stance.
