Chandigarh, 24 December
Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said today that ‘we have to fight together to win this battle.’ Dallewal, who has been on fast to death for the past 29 days at Khanuri border for the last 29 days demanding legal guarantee of MSP among other demands, addressed the farmers from a special stage and thanked them for their support to the movement. This stage has been specially prepared in view of Dallewal’s deteriorating health. Meanwhile, the leaders of the United Kisan Morcha (SKM) said that they would seek an appointment to meet President Draupadi Murmu in the first week of January to put pressure on the central government regarding the release of farmers’ loans and other demands. SKM made it clear that they will not join the ongoing struggle on Shambhu and Khanuri fronts and the call for ‘Punjab Bandh’ on 30 December. The leaders of the front said that they are making plans for a rally on January 9 in Moga, Punjab to raise issues related to farmers.
“I want to tell you that I am fine,” Dallewal said in a weak voice at the Khanuri border. We have to win this battle. This battle can be won only when the entire country fights unitedly.” Dallewal appealed to Punjab’s ‘younger brother Haryana’ and other states that ‘this battle should be fought with strength and full strength.’ The farmer leader said in his two-minute speech (in which he enlisted the help of farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar), “I want the government not to lift us from here at any cost.” If she can’t do that, then either we will win or we will die… one of the two things will happen.” Kohar later said that when Dallewal said he was fine, he meant that even if he was physically fit. and are weak, but their courage is rising. Doctors monitoring Dallewal’s health said that the condition of the farmer leader is critical.
The United Farmers’ Front condemned the ‘indifferent attitude’ of the Center and the Punjab government
Condemning the ‘indifferent attitude’ of the Center and the Punjab government, the leaders of the Punjab unit of the United Kisan Morcha held a meeting and said that in view of the deteriorating condition of Dallewal, they should have intervened and resolved the issue by now. The leader of the front, Prem Singh Bhangu, said that the farmer leaders will seek an appointment to meet President Draupadi Murmu in the first week of January to put pressure on the central government regarding the MSP and other demands, including the release of farm loans. He said that a rally will be held in Moga, Punjab on January 9 to raise issues related to farmers. The leaders of the United Kisan Morcha, however, made it clear that they have no plans to join the ongoing struggle on the Shambhu and Khanuri borders or the call for a Punjab Bandh on December 30. Leaders of the front cited the Centre’s National Agricultural Market Policy and expressed apprehension that it was another attempt to bring back the repealed agricultural laws.
About Dallewal’s death fast, Bhangu said, “We condemn the silence of the Center and the Punjab government. Neither the Chief Minister of Punjab nor his ministers have any concern. The Center and the Punjab Government should have intervened in this matter by now.” Earlier today, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann appealed to the Central Government to leave its ‘obstinacy’ and talk to the protesting farmers. -News-Patiala
