Jagjit Singh Dallewal said that the protesting farmers will not meet the committee formed by the Supreme Court

New Delhi: According to Jagjit Singh Dallewal, the convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), the farmers who are protesting would not attend the Supreme Court-appointed committee. The farmers were supposed to meet with the committee on Wednesday, but they declined, claiming a number of reasons, including the need to undertake negotiations with the central government.

Dallewal wrote to Justice Nawab Singh, the leader of the Committee and a former judge on the Punjab and Haryana High Court: “As you may already be aware, I have been on a hunger strike at the Khanauri border since November 26. I hope you are aware of my medical situation, since today is the 22nd day of my strike. Forty-three days ago, on November 4, the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (a non-political organization) declared my hunger strike. Since then, the strike has been going on for 22 days.

He emphasized how police violence reportedly injured more than 40 farmers who were trying to march on foot from the Shambhu border to Delhi.

“Committee was formed by the Supreme Court to rebuild trust between the farmers and the government, yet you have made no concrete efforts in this direction nor engaged in any serious discussions with the central government to fulfill our legitimate demands,” Dallewal said.

Additionally, he said that both groups were already skeptical that these committees are just established for ceremonial purposes.

“However, on November 4, our delegation met with you out of respect for you and your committee. But in spite of the seriousness of the issue, your committee has not made time to visit the frontiers of Shambhu and Khanauri. The fact that you took action only after such a long delay upsets me much,” he remarked.

Was this committee anticipating my death? We were not prepared for distinguished members of your committee to act in such a callous manner.

Both of our groups have determined that we cannot attend the meeting with you due to my health issues and the situation of the wounded farmers at the Shambhu border. From now on, we will only speak with the central government directly about our requests,” Dallewal said.

A commission led by Justice Nawab Singh (Retd) was established by the Supreme Court in September to investigate the complaints and requests of farmers protesting at the Shambhu border.

The First Report (Eighteenth Lok Sabha) of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Food Processing on the “Demands for Grants (2024-25)” for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare was delivered to the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Charanjit Singh Channi, the current MP from Jalandhar and a former chief minister of Punjab, filed the report. He is also the head of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Food Processing.

Providing farmers with a Minimum Support Price (MSP) as a legal guarantee is one of the report’s noteworthy recommendations.

The committee noted that talks about agricultural reforms and the welfare of Indian farmers continue to center on the implementation of MSP. It emphasized that by guaranteeing financial stability, reducing market volatility, and easing debt loads, a legally enforceable MSP might lower farmer suicide rates.

The introduction of a program to erase the debt of farmers and agricultural laborers is another important suggestion.

Tuesday was the 311th day of the continuing farmers’ demonstrations.
“The Modi administration is under pressure from 2.5 crore Haryanvis, 3 crore Punjabis, and 140 crore Indians.” There are twelve demands,” Pandher said. Sarwan Singh Pandher, a farmer leader, had said, “The singers of Punjab have turned this into a people’s movement.”

He made a plea to the people, saying, “Do whatever you can to support farmers’ demonstrations. Punjabis must fight together.

In order to address Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s hunger strike, Congress MP Manickam Tagore filed a resolution in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday to adjourn.

Due to his declining health, Dalewal, the president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur), is in severe condition and should be admitted to the hospital right away, according to medical specialists. He has, however, declined medical treatment, adamant about carrying on with his hunger strike in support of the farmers’ cause,” Tagore said.

He called on the central government to act right now and have a serious discussion with the representatives of farmers.