Jagjit Singh Dallewal (left)
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Punjab government for creating an impression that the court was trying to break the fast of farmers' leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal by ordering medical aid to him, saying the state's attitude was not at all for conciliation.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan clarified shifting to the hospital does not mean Dallewal, a respectful leader, would end his peaceful protest.
Punjab's Advocate General Gurminder Singh said the state was taking no partisan stand.
"Our people on site, he (Dallewal) has conveyed his feeling (to take medical help) subject to intervention (by the central government)," he said.
On this, the bench asked him, "Have you told him we have constituted a committee for this purpose? Your attitude is not at all for conciliation that is the problem...He can continue with his fast with medical support, the role of committee becomes important...There are people making political statements we know. There are farm leaders. What are their bona fides for Dallewal should also be looked into."
The bench said there was a deliberate attempt in the media by the state government officers to give an impression that the court was pressuring Dallewal to break the fast.
"Our directions were not to break his fast. We just said let his health be taken care of and then his fast can go on. Shifting to hospital does not mean fast is broken. Our concern is no harm to his life. His life is precious as a farm leader. He is not aligned to any political ideologies, he is only taking the farmers' cause," the bench said.
Singh sought a little time saying the officers were on the ground and the state would take all steps required in the matter.
The court asked the state government to file a compliance affidavit and scheduled the matter for consideration on Monday, January 6, 2025.
On December 31, 2024, the Punjab government told the Supreme Court that protesting farmers have given a proposal that their leader Dallewal, who is on hunger strike, would take medical help if the Centre was ready to talk to them over their demands including on legal guarantee of minimum support price.
The top court had then granted three additional days to the Punjab government, upon a request to persuade farmers Dallewal to take medical help. Dallewal has been on fast unto death since November 26 over various demands including a legal guarantee for minimum support price for farmers produce.
On December 28, the Supreme Court had expressed its annoyance over opposition to medical aid to Dallewal, by wondering what kind of leaders are those who are allowing Dallewal to die there at the spot.