Protesting farmers urge SKM to advance joint meeting to January 12 or 13

Punjab farmers protesting at the Khanauri and Shambhu border points on Saturday wrote to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) to hold a meeting, for deciding on a joint fight, on January 12 or 13 in the wake of “deteriorating” health of fasting farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal.

A six-member committee of SKM, which visited the Khanauri protest site on Friday, had invited SKM (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) for a meeting on January 15 in Patiala for unity among farmer bodies for a joint fight against the Centre to get farmers’ demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP for crops.

The leaders of SKM (Non-Political) and KMM on Friday had appealed to SKM to support and strengthen their ongoing agitation without any delay.

Addressing the media at the Khanauri protest site on Saturday, farmer leader Abhmanyu Kohar said both forums of SKM (Non-Political) and KMM wrote to SKM, urging it to hold a joint meeting on Sunday or Monday at the Khanauri protest site as Dallewal’s health is “deteriorating”.

“Seeing his condition, we are not in a position to leave the morcha (protest site),” he said.

Dallewal, who is the convener of SKM (Non-Political), has been on the indefinite hunger strike at the Khanauri border point between Punjab and Haryana since November 26 last year over farmers’ various demands including seeking a legal guarantee on MSP for crops.

Dallewal, whose fast-unto-death entered 47th day on Saturday, has so far refused to take any medical aid despite his prolonged fasting, which has caused his health to worsen.

The six-member committee of SKM during his visit to the Khanauri protest site had inquired about the health of Dallewal.

The six-member panel comprised farmer leaders Balbir Singh Rajewal, Darshan Pal, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Raminder Singh Patiala, Jangveer Singh and Krishna Prasad.

SKM, which had led the 2020 agitation against the now-repealed three fam laws, is not part of the ongoing agitation of SKM (Non-Political) and KMM.

Meanwhile, former cricketer and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh on Saturday took to X and said saving the farming community should be the priority.

“Keeping in mind the health of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, I request all those who can resolve this issue, as every issue can be resolved through dialogue. Saving the farmer and farming should be our priority,” said Singh in a post.

Meanwhile, farmer leader Kohar said Dallewal’s fast-unto-death reached the 47th day on Saturday.

Citing Dallewal’s medical report, Kohar said his uric acid reached 11.64 mg/dL, which is much higher than the normal range of 3.50-7.20 milligrams per decilitre.

He also said the ketone level is also on a higher side. Sodium, potassium and chloride are also very low in Dallewal’s body, he said.