Punjab government intensifies efforts to convince farmer leader Dallewal to seek medical help

Chandigarh: With the Supreme Court’s December 31 deadline to admit farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal to a hospital approaching, the Punjab government has intensified its efforts to persuade him to seek medical attention.

A team led by former additional DGP Jaskaran Singh has been engaging with Dallewal for several days.

The Supreme Court had earlier warned Punjab’s chief secretary and the DGP of contempt proceedings if Dallewal was not shifted to a hospital by the deadline. It also allowed the state to seek assistance from the Centre. The court is scheduled to hear the matter again on Tuesday.

On Sunday, Jaskaran Singh met Dallewal at the Khanauri border. Addressing reporters later, Singh stated that a medical team had collected Dallewal’s blood samples for tests.

While confirming that Dallewal was weak, Singh described his condition as stable. He dismissed concerns about any potential police action to forcibly move Dallewal, saying, “I don’t see such a situation.”

Punjab Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa, however, raised concerns about the significant police deployment in Patiala. “Is this meant to intimidate or harm the peacefully agitating farmers, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal?” he questioned.

Bajwa warned that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann would be held responsible for any harm to the farmers, calling the government’s disregard for their demands “unpardonable.”

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher reiterated that the protest was peaceful and targeted at the Centre, not the state governments. He urged the Punjab government to support the farmers and warned against any forceful action under the pretext of the court’s orders.

Meanwhile, farmers have fortified the security arrangements at the Khanauri border, where Dallewal continues his protest.