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121 farmers end indefinite fast after Dallewal takes medical aid

A group of 121 farmers, which had started an indefinite fast in solidarity with fasting union leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal at the Khanauri border five days ago, called off its agitation on Sunday. The development came a day after the...
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DIG, Patiala Range, Mandeep Singh Sidhu meets farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal at the Khanauri border on Sunday. RAJESH SACHAR
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A group of 121 farmers, which had started an indefinite fast in solidarity with fasting union leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal at the Khanauri border five days ago, called off its agitation on Sunday. The development came a day after the Centre offered to hold talks with the protesting farmers on February 14, consequent to which Dallewal agreed to get medical aid.

A step forward

It (offer for talks) is not a big victory, but we were successful in getting a shut door open… It’s a step forward. Kaka Singh Kotra, farmer leader

The farmers — 111 from Punjab and 10 from Haryana — ended their fast around noon, hours after a team of eight doctors began Dallewal’s treatment in the early hours on Sunday. “I will not have food till all demands of the farmers are met. We will hold talks with the Centre and see how things proceed,” Dallewal, who has been on an indefinite fast for 55 days, told a gathering at Khanauri on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, Patiala Range DIG Mandeep Sidhu and SSP Nanak Singh reached Khanauri and met Dallewal.

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A group of 111 farmers from Punjab, led by union leader Surjit Hardojhande, had begun their fast on Wednesday. They were later joined by 10 farmers from Haryana.

Late on Saturday evening, Priya Ranjan, Joint Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, met Dallewal and invited him for talks on February 14 at Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Chandigarh. “I hope Dallewal ends his fast and participates in the talks,” he said.

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Dallewal had been refusing any aid since he began his indefinite fast on November 26. After the meeting, the protesting farmers released pictures showing Dallewal taking medical aid through an intravenous drip. Farmer leaders said they had demanded from the central delegation that the meeting should be held earlier, as February 14 was too far.

The officials told the farmers that ministers and officers had been deputed for the Republic Day function and secondly, the model code of conduct was in force till February 9 in the wake of the Delhi Assembly polls, said farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar. Kohar said the delegation told them the first round of the meeting would be held in Chandigarh and the next round would take place in Delhi.

Meanwhile, the unions are gearing up for the January 26 tractor march and also preparing a group of 101 farmers, who will once again attempt a march to the national capital from the Shambhu border on January 21. It will be their fourth such attempt since December 6.

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