MHA official, DGP reach out to fasting Dallewal

Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-political) convener Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border entered the 20th day today, told Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav that he would end his fast only if the Centre fulfilled all demands of the farmers, including a legal guarantee on the MSP of all crops.

Dallewal also told the DGP that he was mentally prepared to sacrifice his life if the Centre did not fulfil their demands.

DGP Yadav, along with Mayank Mishra, a representative of the Centre and Director, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Patiala Range DIG Mandeep Singh Sidhu, met Dallewal at the Khanauri border today on the orders of the Supreme Court. They were here to convince farmer leaders to provide Dallewal medical aid without forcing him to break his fast unless it was imperative to do so to save his life.

After the meeting, the DGP said he enquired about Dallewal’s well-being and also made efforts to convince him to use medical aid immediately. He told him that they needed him to end the agitation in a “positive way”. He said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had also sent a special message to Dallewal that talks with the Centre regarding their demands were in progress.

The DGP said Dallewal’s life was precious and the state, in coordination with the farmers, would make all efforts to resolve the issue. He said to tackle any emergency with regard to Dallewal’s health, a well-equipped ambulance had been provided at the agitation site.

He expressed the hope that the issue would be resolved in a positive way. He said the stand of Punjab Government was clear — it considered all demands of the farmers as genuine.

Meanwhile, several leaders visited the Khanauri site today and met Dallewal to enquire about his well-being. Among them were Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Partap Singh Bajwa, Patiala MP Dharamveer Gandhi, former Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat and president of the BKU (Charuni) Gurnam Singh Charuni. State general secretary of the BKU (Sidhupur) Kaka Singh Kotra said Mann was “silent” on the farmers’ demands and he should make his stand clear whether he was with the farmers or the BJP. He said officers were only enquiring about Dallewal’s health and they were silent on whether the Centre had initiated steps to fulfil their demands.