The high-powered committee constituted by the Supreme Court to address farmers’ issues will visit the Khanauri border point on Monday to meet fasting farmer Jagjit Singh Dallewal in person.
Dallewal’s fast unto death will enter its 42nd day on Monday. The visit by the committee, led by retired judge Nawab Singh, is significant as Dallewal had earlier refused to meet the committee in Chandigarh. He has maintained that he will call off his hunger strike only if the Centre initiates a dialogue with the farmers.
However, the Centre has not yet responded. Punjab agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian has written to union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, urging him to hold a meeting with the farmers. During Chouhan’s pre-budget meeting on Saturday, Khuddian sought his personal intervention and requested that a meeting with the agitating farmers at the Khanauri and Shambhu border points be convened.
The meeting is scheduled for 3 pm. The committee had earlier expressed interest in meeting Dallewal and had offered to visit him at the morcha site.
Previously, the committee invited both agitating organisations, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, to a meeting, but both declined. Subsequently, second-rung leaders of these organisations held discussions with the committee. Dallewal did not participate in these meetings, despite the committee’s mandate from the Supreme Court to address the farmers’ grievances and broader issues.
The committee, comprising retired justice Nawab Singh, former DGP BS Sandhu, economist RS Ghuman, agriculture expert Devinder Sharma, and Punjab Farmers Commission chairperson Sukhpal Singh, will meet Dallewal to hold talks.
One of the primary demands of the agitating farmers is the implementation of a minimum support price (MSP) on all crops. The committee is already exploring ways to enhance farmers’ incomes, including through MSP, and is consulting experts and conducting research on the matter.
The meeting is also significant as the Supreme Court has directed the Punjab government to provide medical aid to Dallewal. However, the government has stated it will not use force to shift him to a hospital.
The case is set to be heard on Monday. Dallewal has reiterated that he will not end his strike until the farmers’ demands are met.
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