Chandigarh, January 15, 2025 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau): Further intensifying their stir against the Centre in support of their various demands, a ‘jatha’ of 111 farmers wearing black clothes started their fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border.
The group, who is holding the protest in solidarity with farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, held prayers before commencing the fast. Heavy police force has been deployed at the border on Haryana side. The ‘jatha’ plans to sit on the hunger strike for an indefinite period.
Early morning, farmers were seen cleaning the area. Meanwhile, Dallewal’s fast-unto-death reached the 51th day on Wednesday with farmer leaders saying he was having difficulty in drinking water.
His body is still not accepting water and is moving towards “multi-organ failure”, which is worrisome, they said.
The farmers had earlier said Dallewal had not been eating anything and was just surviving on water.
Doctors attending to Dallewal said his health is “deteriorating” every day. His ketone level is on the higher side and muscle mass has decreased, they said.
Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar said a group of 111 farmers will sit on a fast-unto-death from Wednesday at 2 pm. Wearing black clothes, they will squat near the police barricading peacefully.
The farmers are very emotional and they believe that they will sacrifice themselves before Dallewal’s sacrifice, he said.
Farmer leaders lashed out at the Centre for not paying heed to farmers’ demands including a legal guarantee to minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
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 last year over the farmers’ various demands including seeking a legal guarantee on MSP for crops
Dallewal has so far refused to take any medical aid despite his prolonged fasting, which has caused his health to worsen.
A group of farmers from Kaithal district of Haryana reached the Khanauri border point in support of Dallewal. The farmers, under the banner of SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 last year after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces.
Summary: 111 farmers in Punjab start a fast-unto-death protest in solidarity with Dallewal, intensifying their demand for justice and rights.