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 instead of Dallewal, farmer leader Sukhjit Singh Hardojhande is sitting on a fast unto death. Pandher said, “Sukhjit’s fast unto death has entered the second day.” Dallewal, who started the fast unto death on Tuesday to demand the demands of the farmers, was allegedly forcibly removed from the Khanauri border and taken to a hospital in Ludhiana for examination on Tuesday. Taking aim at the Bhagwant Mann government, Pandher on Wednesday said the state government had failed in its attempt to “thwart” Dallewal’s agitation by removing him.
What did Pandher say?
He further said that he was not aware of Dallewal’s condition. “What is his condition? No one is clarifying,” he said. Pandher said that the state government has not yet given any information about the forced removal of Dallewal from Khanauri border. “The Punjab Chief Minister should tell the people of the state about yesterday’s incident (Dallewal’s removal) and why it was done,” he said. Pandher asked people to reach Khanauri border in large numbers. The farmer leader also said that they will see if the MPs raise the issues of legal guarantee of MSP on crops, farm loan waiver in the current Parliament session. Dallewal (70) was taken to Ludhiana’s Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) for medical examination on Tuesday after he was allegedly forcibly removed from the protest site at 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.
Farmers’ demand from the center
Farmers are demanding that the Center should talk to them within 10 days to resolve their issues. He said that the Central Government has not talked to him on his issues since February 18. He reiterated that the protesting farmers will march towards Delhi on 6 December. Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had already announced plans to intensify their agitation by starting a fast unto death in support of various demands of farmers, including legal guarantee for MSP. 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 to Delhi.
The protesting farmers have accused the Center of not taking steps to meet their demands and said that the Center has not held any talks with them on their issues since February 18.