Chandigarh: Stating that the health of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal is very critical, who is on fast-unto-death since November 26 last, former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday said and the BJP government should immediately end his fast by resolving his demands by giving up its stubborn attitude.
It may be recalled that a number of farmers have been protesting to press the Centre for their various demands including minimum support price (MSP) and debt waiver and camping at the barricaded Shambhu and Khanauri borders of Punjab and Haryana since February 13, 2024.
Under their protest “Delhi chalo’’ march 2.0 – the first being in the 2020-2021 – their attempts to move towards Delhi were thwarted on December 6, 8, and 14 by Haryana police by lobbing teargas shells, leading to injuries to many of them.
Dallewal, about 70, who is a cancer patient, has also been on a fast-unto-death at Khanuari border since November 26 last, though the top court had directed the Punjab government to ensure he gets immediate medical aid as his health has been deteriorating.
Talking to newspersons here, Hooda said Dallewal’s life is precious for everyone because he is not fasting for personal interest, but for the demands of the farmers.
BJP itself had ended the farmers’ movement by promising minimum support price (MSP) in the past and now farmers are reminding the government of its promise, he said.
“Congress has been in favour of giving MSP to the farmers under the Swaminathan formula since the beginning. BJP had also promised to double the income of farmers by implementing the Swaminathan report, but after coming to power, it forgot its promise and instead of doubling the income of farmers, it increased its cost manifold,” he added.
