Dallewal has not broken his fast-unto-death, Punjab govt misleading judiciary, public: Farm activist

Tensions continue to rise between the state government and protesting farmers as conflicting reports emerge regarding the health and fasting status of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal.

After being released from jail, the farmer leaders accused the government of misinformation.

While the state government informed the Supreme Court that Dallewal had ended his 123-day-long hunger strike, the Sanyukit Kisan Morcha (SKM Non-Political) strongly refuted this claim. According to SKM leaders, Dallewal persisted with his fast, abstaining from water since March 19 in protest against the arrest of fellow farmer leaders and the heavy-handed police crackdown at Shambhu and Khanauri Morchas.

Sukhjit Singh Hardo Jhande maintained that the government was spreading a misinformation campaign to mislead the public and judiciary in particular. “We will state facts before the court. After evicting and arresting farmers from Shambhu and Khanauri borders, the government is spreading misinformation campaigns as anger against the ruling regime is growing in rural areas.”

Hardo Jhande said that Dallewal started his hunger strike on November 26 and was only consuming water. On January 18, after much persuasion and a proposal of the central government for talks, Dallewal had agreed to take medical assistance.

Dallewal had consumed water after all detained farmers from Mohali, Shambhu, and Khanauri were released on Friday. Former DIG Narinder Bhargav and ADGP Jaskaran Singh, appointed as government interlocutors, were seen offering him water, marking the end of his nine-day water abstinence.

Another farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar in a video message maintained that Dallewal had consumed merely water and agreed to take medical assistance.

“A rumor is being spread that Dallewal has ended his fast. We wish to clarify that Dallewal is continuing his fast unto death.”