Dallewal takes medical aid; Centre to meet farmers 14 February

The Centre will hold a meeting with Punjab's protesting farmers on 14 February in Chandigarh to discuss their demands, thus ending a stalemate over the resumption of dialogue with the agitators, who have been demanding a legal guarantee on the MSP for crops.

Following the announcement of the proposed meeting, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose fast-unto-death entered the 54th day on Saturday, 18 January, has agreed to take medical aid.

However, he will not end his indefinite fast till a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for crops is given, said farmer leader Sukhjit Singh Hardojhande.

Later, pictures showing Dallewal taking medical aid with an intravenous drip were released by the farmers.

The breakthrough came after a delegation of officials from the union agriculture ministry, led by joint secretary Priya Ranjan, met Dallewal and held a meeting with the representatives of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), which have been spearheading the agitation over the last 11 months.

Following the announcement of the meeting on 14 February, farmer leaders appealed to Dallewal to take medical aid so that he can participate in the proposed deliberations.

The Centre's delegation also urged Dallewal to take medical aid so that he can participate in the proposed meeting, which will take place at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Chandigarh at 5:00 p.m. on 14 February.

Talking to reporters at the Khanauri protest site, Ranjan said a high-level delegation was sent by the Centre, keeping in mind the deteriorating health of Dallewal.

"We enquired about his health and held a meeting with the representatives (of the protesting farmer bodies)," he said.

"We urged him (Dallewal) to break his fast and take medical aid, so that he can participate in the meeting," he added.

A letter he addressed to Dallewal, SKM (Non-Political) and KMM reads:

‘This is in continuation of the previous meeting with the leaders of SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), which was held on February 15, 2024 at Chandigarh.

‘A meeting with the ministers of the government of India and the Punjab government regarding the demands of the farmers' unions has been convened on February 14, 2025 (5 pm) at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration Punjab (MGSIPA), Sector-26, Chandigarh.

‘You are cordially invited to the meeting, please attend at the scheduled time. We hope that Dallewal will soon end his fast, recover and join the discussion.’

The Centre's delegation held meetings with the representatives of both the forums.

Four rounds of meetings had taken place a year ago between union ministers and the protesting farmers on 8, 12, 15 and 18 February 2024, but the talks remained inconclusive.

Earlier on 18 January 2025, the farmers protesting at the Khanauri and Shambhu border points between Punjab and Haryana acknowledged receiving a proposal from the central government, which they would discuss.

A Punjab government team led by retired additional director general of police Jaskaran Singh and former deputy inspector general of police Narinder Bhargav, who were holding discussions with the farmer leaders, was also present at the meeting between Ranjan and the two parties.

According to farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar, the officials have fixed 14 February for the meeting as assembly polls are due in Delhi and the Model Code of Conduct will be in force in the capital till 9 February.

When the Model Code of Conduct is in force, no government can make any announcement, Kohar said.

Sharing details about Dallewal's health, Kohar said the farmer leader was unable to take water and had been vomiting.

Doctors have warned that anything could happen to Dallewal, he added.

Before agreeing to take medical aid, Dallewal had asked the farmer leaders to take consent from the 121 farmers who were also on an indefinite fast.

A few days ago, a group of 111 farmers began a fast-unto-death in solidarity with Dallewal. Later, 10 more farmers joined.

Dallewal, who is convenor of the SKM (Non-Political), has been on the indefinite hunger strike at the Khanauri border point since 26 November 2024 in support of various demands, including a legal guarantee on the MSP for crops.

The farmers reported that Dallewal has not eaten anything since 26 November and was just surviving on water.

Farmer leaders on Thursday, 16 January, said Dallewal — who is also battling cancer — had lost about 20 kg during his fast unto death. His weight has reduced to 66.4 kg now from the 86.9 kg he was, they said, when he began the indefinite fast.

Farmers under the banner of the SKM (Non-Political) and KMM have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points since 13 February last year, after security forces stopped them from marching to Delhi to press for their various demands, including a legal guarantee on the MSP for their crops.

Edited PTI inputs