Chandigarh, December 30, 2024: Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s hunger strike, now in its 35th day, has sparked growing tension as the Punjab government faces a December 31 deadline set by the Supreme Court to shift the ailing protester to a temporary hospital. Despite his deteriorating health, the 70-year-old farmer leader continues to refuse medical assistance, intensifying concerns over his condition.
On December 29, a team of Punjab government officials visited the protest site at the Khanori border to persuade Dallewal to seek treatment, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Today, a police team led by former ADGP Jaskaran Singh, along with Patiala Range DIG Mandeep Sidhu and Patiala SSP Nanak Singh, reached the site in a bid to resolve the standoff.
The Supreme Court has warned of contempt proceedings against Punjab’s Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) if Dallewal is not hospitalized by December 31. The court is scheduled to review the state government’s compliance with its directive on that day.
Amid these developments, Dallewal has expressed fears that authorities might resort to force to move him from the protest site. On December 28, the Supreme Court criticized the Punjab government for failing to address the farmer leader’s health concerns.
As the situation intensifies, Dallewal’s unwavering stance underscores the broader struggle for farmers’ rights, while the government balances court mandates and the delicate nature of the protest.
