With Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s indefinite starvation strike getting into its 34th day on Sunday, farmer leaders at Khanauri mentioned they’ve been following the Gandhian strategy to proceed their protest and it’s as much as the federal government to resolve whether or not it needs to make use of power to evict their senior chief.
Their assertion comes amid the Supreme Court docket’s sturdy criticism of the Punjab authorities for not shifting Dallewal to a hospital.
The farmers have been protesting on the Punjab-Haryana border to press the Centre for a number of calls for, together with a authorized assure for a minimal assist worth (MSP) for crops.
Talking to reporters on the Khanauri border protest website, farmer chief Abhimanyu Kohar mentioned, “We need to make it clear that the Centre, proper from day one, has been attempting to defame and suppress our agitation.”
He mentioned a story is being constructed that farmers are cussed. “Whereas it’s the Centre that’s adopting such an perspective, not listening to us and never paying any consideration to farmers’ calls for.”
“We’re persevering with our agitation by adopting Gandhian ideas. Our agitations have confirmed that, regardless of enduring a lot because of the authorities’s oppression, we’ve continued to protest in a Gandhian method,” he mentioned.
“We’re following these ideas. Now, it’s as much as the federal government and constitutional our bodies to resolve whether or not they need to use power to evict Dallewal ji,” Kohar added.
He additional mentioned the farmers wished to make it clear that no matter state of affairs arises, the duty will lie with the Centre and constitutional our bodies.
“We additionally need to enchantment to the individuals of the nation that the agitation in search of a assure for MSP has reached a decisive stage. We’re on the edge of victory… We should take a robust stand. Dallewal has put his life at stake,” he mentioned.
Kohar mentioned it was as much as the individuals of the nation to resolve whether or not to remain at dwelling or be current in giant numbers on the Khanauri Morcha in assist of Dallewal.
SKM (Non-political) chief Kaka Singh Kotra mentioned the federal government can attempt to evict Dallewal from the present protest website and their unions are interesting to Punjabis to achieve Khanauri in most numbers.
He additionally mentioned Dallewal has made it clear that he’s able to sacrifice his life for the sake of farmers on this nation.
In the meantime, farmers, on a warpath towards the Centre, known as for a “kisan mahapanchayat” on the Khanauri protest website on January 4.
Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have additionally known as for a Punjab bandh on Monday and claimed their strike name has acquired sturdy assist from transporters, workers, merchants, and different sections of society.
Thought there shall be an entire bandh on Monday, emergency companies will stay operational, farmer chief Sarwan Singh Pandher mentioned.
On Saturday, whereas admonishing the Punjab authorities, the Supreme Court docket additionally instructed the chance that Dallewal could not have been allowed to be taken to a hospital by different farmer leaders.
In response, Dallewal, in a video message on the identical day , mentioned, “I’m sitting on a quick. Who gave this report back to the Supreme Court docket, and who unfold this false impression that I’ve been saved hostage? The place did such a factor come from?”
“Seven lakh farmers on this nation have dedicated suicide resulting from debt. Saving farmers is critical, due to this fact, I’m sitting right here. I’m not beneath anybody’s strain,” he added.
Dallewal had earlier mentioned he wouldn’t break his quick till the federal government agreed to the farmers’ calls for. The Supreme Court docket gave the Punjab authorities time till December 31 to influence Dallewal to shift to a hospital, granting the state the freedom to hunt logistical assist from the Centre, if needed.
In response the Punjab authorities mentioned within the court docket that it’s going through important resistance from the protesting farmers, who’ve encircled Dallewal and are stopping him from being taken to a hospital.
The apex court docket additionally termed the conduct of some farmer leaders accompanying Dallewal as shocking and questionable.
Dallewal has thus far refused medical therapy, and the state authorities has fashioned a crew of docs to watch his well being round the clock.
Farmers, beneath the banner of SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been tenting on the Shambhu and Khanauri border factors between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, after their march to Delhi was stopped by safety forces.
A “jatha” (group) of 101 farmers tried to march to Delhi on foot 3 times between December 6 and 14 however have been stopped by safety personnel from Haryana.
Along with a authorized assure for MSP, the farmers are demanding a debt waiver, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electrical energy tariffs, the withdrawal of police circumstances, and “justice” for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
