'MEET PM INSTEAD': FARMER LEADER JAGJIT DALLEWAL SLAMS BJP FOR SEEKING AKAL TAKHT'S INTERVENTION FOR ENDING HIS FAST
Amid the ongoing protest by farmers, Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal lashed out at the BJP for seeking the Akal Takht's intervention for ending his fast-unto-death and also said that they should instead approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi and press him to accept the demands of the farmers. The strike by farmers entered day 46 on Friday.
The 70-year-old leader released a three-minute video message and asserted that he will end his fast only after the Centre accepts the demands by farmers' that include a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price for crops.
On Thursday, a BJP delegation, comprising Sukhminder Pal Singh Grewal and Sarchand Singh, appealed to Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh to intervene to end the indefinite fast of the farmer leader.
The delegation expressed concern over Dallewal's deteriorating health.
In his video message, Dallewal said, "We have got information that the leaders of the Punjab unit of BJP appealed to the Akal Takht to intervene in order to end Dallewal's fast-unto-death. (They appealed to the Akal Takht that) a direction be given so that he should end his fast. I respect the Akal Takht."
"But the Punjab BJP should approach (PM) Modi ji, the vice president (Jagdeep Dhankhar), Agriculture Minister (Shivraj Singh Chouhan), (Home Minister) Amit Shah ji. Instead of meeting them, they are approaching the Akal Takht Jathedar," he said.
Dallewal, the convenor of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), has been on an indefinite hunger strike at the Khanauri border point between Punjab and Haryana since November 26 last year over farmers' various demands, including seeking a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for crops. He has refused to take any medical aid during the prolonged fasting period, causing his health to deteriorate.
Doctors attending to Dallewal had earlier said his condition was "deteriorating" because of the prolonged fasting.
Farmers, under the banner of SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, after their march to Delhi was halted by security forces.
