Supreme Court panel meets Jagjit Dallewal post hearing on farmers protests

Dallewal has been on an indefinite hunger strike since November 26, 2024, pressing the farmers' various demands, including a legal guarantee on the minimum support price for crops.

Chandigarh: A Supreme Court-appointed high-powered committee Monday met farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on an indefinite fast, and urged him to take medical aid.

Dallewal, who is the convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political), has been on an indefinite hunger strike at the Khanauri border point between Punjab and Haryana since November 26, 2024, over several demands, including a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

The committee headed by former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Nawab Singh reached the Khanauri protest site at around 3.30 pm and requested the septuagenarian Dallewal to take medical assistance.

During a hearing in the Supreme Court earlier in the day, the Punjab government, through senior advocate Kapil Sibal, informed the bench about the meeting.

The apex court, in September 2024, formed the committee with the aim to amicably resolve the grievances of protesting farmers.

The committee also comprises retired IPS officer B S Sandhu, agriculture expert Devinder Sharma, professor Ranjit Singh Ghuman and Dr Sukhpal Singh, agricultural economists from the Punjab Agricultural University.

Addressing the media after meeting Dallewal, Justice (retd) Nawab Singh said, "We all repeatedly requested him for medical (help). We want his health to be good."

He said, "I came here today not to say that the agitation should end but to say your (Dallewal) health should be good." Dallewal told the panel that for him, farm issues came first, his health later, Singh said.

He said they can only make a request to him to take medical aid, when asked about the outcome of the meeting.

Dallewal, whose fast-unto-death entered the 42nd day on Monday, has so far refused to take any medical aid despite his prolonged fasting, which has caused his health to deteriorate.

Asked for his response on the farmers' assertion that the committee has no power and that only the Centre can resolve their issue, members said while the panel has "no authority", it will submit a "good analysis" to the Supreme Court, which it said was the highest authority.

Singh added that the report to the court will be submitted in a phased manner.

Referring to a top court's order, he said besides farmers, the committee will also analyse people who are below the poverty line.

When asked for a comment on the farmers' demand for a legal MSP, Singh said, "Our concern is to submit a report to the Supreme Court."

Committee member and agriculture expert Devinder Sharma said the panel conveyed to Dallewal that while they submit the report to the Supreme Court, the farmer leader should be healthy. "We told Dallewal saab that we came here to request him that we need your life, we need you."

Sharma, a food policy analyst and researcher, also said the committee will visit villages and meet farmers to resolve their issues.

"Today we came and met him. We had been waiting for farmers for a meeting for the past four months. They did not come. But we came. We will meet farmers at every place. Our effort will be that we understand from you and you understand us and then let us try to come up with a workable solution," he said.

The farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, 2024, after their march to Delhi was stopped by the security forces.