SC Clarifies on Dallewal’s Fast; Mahapanchayats Trigger Political Parleys

On 1 Jan, when asked about farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal's hunger strike, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, 'The Supreme Court is looking into the matter. We will accept whatever decision the apex court takes.' On 2 Jan, the Supreme Court of India (SCI) said Panjab govt. officials and farmer leaders are creating a false impression that efforts are being made to break Dallewal’s hunger strike. SCI clarified, 'Shifting to hospital does not mean the fast is broken. Our concern is no harm to his life. His life is precious as a farm leader. He is not aligned to any political ideologies; he is only taking the farmers’ cause.' The clarification is important because Indian corporate media is repeatedly alleging that the farmers are solely out to harm the country. Since the Mahapanchayats (big gatherings) at Khanauri and Tohana on 4 Jan attracted huge crowds indicating popular support, political parties in Panjab have become more involved. Panjab INC has asked CM Bhagwant Singh Mann to lead an all-party delegation to PM Narendra Modi to find an amicable solution to the farmers' issue. Senior INC leader Brahm Mohindra said, 'Panjab is crucial for the country as it has always been in the forefront of guarding and feeding the nation.' Former state INC CM, now in BJP, Captain Amarinder Singh also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and posted on X that he discussed 'various current issues of Panjab.' Panjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian has sought Chouhan's personal intervention and asked him for a dialogue with farmers protesting at Shambhu and Khanauri, situated on the Panjab-Haryana border. Earlier Khuddian had written to Chauhan on 20 Dec highlighting Dallewal’s critical condition. He asked if the union govt could meet farmers in Feb 2023, why not now?