Kanauri, 5 January 2025: Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a prominent farmer leader and hunger striker, suffered a health setback on Saturday after addressing the “Kisan Mahapanchayat” in Khanauri. Medical officials said Dallewal experienced dizziness and vomiting as his blood pressure dropped significantly while being escorted back to his tent.
“His condition was unstable, with fluctuating blood pressure during the address. It worsened when he was carried off the stage,” said Dr. Avtar Singh Dhillon, leading the team of doctors monitoring Dallewal.
The leader, on the 40th day of his indefinite hunger strike, was briefly taken to the stage in an ambulance after undergoing pre-speech medical tests on Friday evening. “He only agreed to the public appearance after his vitals were deemed stable,” an official added.
Secured Enclosure
Following an incident in November when police forcibly moved Dallewal to a hospital, security around the farmer leader has been heightened. His stage is encased in a heavily guarded glass cubicle, with more than 100 tractor-trailers welded together forming a barricade and nearly 700 volunteers managing security to prevent any external interference, sources said.
Renewed Push for MSP Law
During his 11-minute speech, Dallewal called on farmer unions across India to unite in demanding a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP). “This is not Punjab’s fight alone—it is a national issue,” Dallewal told the gathering from his bed inside the cubicle.
He reiterated his commitment to the cause, declaring, “This is a do-or-die battle. I will continue this hunger strike until the Centre enacts a law guaranteeing MSP, as recommended by the parliamentary committee on agriculture.”
The “mahapanchayat,” organized by the SKM (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, saw thousands in attendance and was the fourth large-scale mobilization of farmers in less than a month.
Former DIG Narinder Bhargav, part of the backchannel negotiations with Dallewal, arrived at Khanauri shortly after learning of the incident. Officials also placed a health department team on alert as concerns about his condition persist.
