SC-appointed panel meets Dallewal, urges him to accept medical aid

In a high-stakes effort to break the deadlock in the ongoing farmers' agitation, the Supreme Court-appointed high-powered committee led by Justice (retd) Nawab Singh met with farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Monday at the Khanauri border point between Punjab and Haryana.

The septuagenarian farmer leader and cancer patient, on an indefinite hunger strike since 26 November 2024, was urged to accept medical aid as his condition continues to deteriorate.

This pivotal meeting follows the Punjab government’s assurance to the Supreme Court that the protesting farmers had agreed to engage with the panel. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the state, informed a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N.K. Singh about the scheduled discussions, expressing optimism about a breakthrough in the months-long impasse.

Justice (retd) Singh, speaking to reporters after the meeting, highlighted the panel’s immediate priority: Dallewal’s health. "We pray to 'Waheguru' for his well-being. We repeatedly urged him to seek medical assistance because his health is paramount," Singh said. However, he clarified, "Our aim is not to end the protest but to ensure his health so that discussions can proceed constructively."

Dallewal, convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), remains steadfast in his commitment to the farmers' cause, saying, "For me, farming comes first, my health later." Despite mounting concerns and persistent appeals, he has refused medical aid, intensifying worries about the implications of his prolonged fast.

Farmers, under the banners of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been camping at the Khanauri and Shambhu border points since February 2024.

Their march to Delhi was blocked by security forces, leading to their sit-in protests at these sites. Their key demands include a statutory guarantee for minimum support prices (MSP) for crops, among other critical agricultural issues.

Dallewal’s hunger strike, initiated on 26 November, marks a new chapter in the farmers’ movement. His protest has become a symbol of the resilience and urgency of their demands, with the ongoing agitation drawing parallels to the historic protest against farms laws that culminated in the laws’ repeal in 2021.

In September 2024, the Supreme Court constituted the high-powered panel to mediate between the government and the protesting farmers. Apart from justice Singh, the panel includes retired IPS officer B.S. Sandhu, agricultural expert Devinder Sharma, Professor Ranjit Singh Ghuman, and Dr Sukhpal Singh, an agricultural economist from Punjab Agricultural University.

Justice Singh expressed confidence in the committee's mandate, emphasising the trust placed in it by Justice Surya Kant, who oversaw its formation. Singh stated, "We are here whenever [the farmers] wish to engage. Our primary concern is dialogue and resolution."

The farmers’ initial hesitation to engage with the committee had raised questions about the prospects of meaningful negotiations. Monday’s meeting, however, signals a potential turning point.

While the apex court has directed the Punjab government to shift Dallewal to a hospital, he refused. As Dallewal’s health worsens, the stakes for all parties are rising. The government faces mounting pressure to address the farmers' demands, while the farmers' leadership is under pressure to navigate the delicate balance between sustaining their movement and safeguarding their well-being. The meeting at Khanauri marks a critical juncture in the protest, with hopes pinned on the possibility of dialogue paving the way for a resolution.