Dallewal’s Health Worsens, Haryana Police Thwart 2 Attempts to March to Delhi

On 10 Dec, the 14^th day of Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s fast-unto-death, doctors attending to him said his health was worsening (SDW Vol 2, Issue 49, Story 5). Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) leader Dallewal has been on hunger strike over the farmers’ demand for legal Minimum Support Price (MSP) at the Khanauri interstate border between Panjab and Haryana (SDW Vol 2, Issue 48, Story 5). On 6 Dec, the 349^th martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur, also the 68^th death anniversary of Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar, and the day Hindutva forces tore down the Babri Mosque in 1992, a 101-strong group of farmers from the Shambhu interstate border proceeded towards Delhi on foot. The reason the farmers have formed the Marjeevda Jatha (to-be martyr’s brigade) is because when the Farmers’ Protest 2.0 started on 13 Feb 2024, the Haryana govt. objected to farmers marching to Delhi on tractors. Having spent 301 days on the roads on the Shambhu border, the farmers decided to march the 215 km to Delhi. At the reinforced barricades, the security forces tear gassed and pepper sprayed farmers and journalists. 15 farmers were hospitalized. On 8 Dec, when another Jatha approached the barricades the security forces showered flower petals on them, offered tea and biscuits but when farmers did not relent, they teargassed them and used water cannons. 6 farmers and 3 women journalists were injured. As a side spectacle, India’s Vice President (VP) Jagdeep Dhankar raised the issue of MSP to farmers. India’s Agriculture Minister Shivraj Chauhan responded to it in Parliament. The VP said he was satisfied, while the farmers are not. The next march is scheduled for 14 Dec.