Dallewal’s health worsens; farmer unions talk of unity

Chandigarh: The health of fasting farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been worsening. A team of doctors monitoring his health closely, stated the farmer leaders during an emergency press conference called at the Khanauri border.

Following the development a meeting of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha will be held in Chandigarh on Thursday which will be followed by a joint meeting of both fronts for unity with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha.

While briefing the media persons the farmer leaders said that the latest medical reports of Jagjit Singh Dallewal show that his urine test has tested positive for ketone, indicating that due to not eating anything for 93 days and consuming only water, his body is now consuming itself from within. His kidney function test result is 3.00, whereas it should be below 1.00 in a healthy person also his uric acid level is 9.30, which should be below 7.40 in a normal individual.

Meanwhile, on March 8, Women’s Day, women’s panchayats will be organized at Datasinghwala-Khanauri, Shambhu, and Ratnapura protest sites on the issue of the MSP Guarantee Law.

Dallewal had developed a high fever of 103.6°F at 5 am on Wednesday and medical reports indicate positive ketone levels in his urine, raising serious health concerns.

Meanwhile, a team of doctors is present at the site and keeping a close watch on his condition. Dallewal started his hunger strike on November 26 and the fast unto death has entered the 93rd Day on Wednesday.

However, he was taking medical assistance but had refused to end the hunger strike until the demands of a guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP) was fulfilled. The farmer leaders have called an emergency press conference at 5 PM at the Datasinghwala-Khanauri Kisan Morcha site to discuss his deteriorating health.

According to farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar Dallewal’s health condition suddenly worsened on Tuesday evening with his blood pressure shooting up to 176/107. Farmer leaders have urged the central government to take immediate action and announce a legal guarantee for MSP without further delay.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have welcomed the Punjab Assembly’s resolution against the National Agricultural Marketing Policy. They have demanded that other state governments also reject the new farming policy draft.

The farmer unions had earlier urged Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Khuddiyan to oppose the National Agricultural Marketing Policy during the Assembly session. Both farmer groups have been opposing this policy from the beginning.

Meanwhile, the Union government has fixed the next meeting with farmer leaders in March 19 at Chandigarh as the first meeting between the group of Union Ministers including Agriculture Minister Shivraj Chouhan ended on a positive note.