A flicker of hope emerged at the Khanauri and Shambhu border points on Saturday as the central government extended a proposal to protesting farmers, sparking anticipation of a breakthrough in their year-long standoff. Farmer leader Kaka Singh Kotra confirmed receiving the proposal, saying, “Leaders of both forums are discussing it, and we will respond soon.” However, the contents of the proposal remain undisclosed.
This development follows a two-hour meeting between Union agriculture ministry officials, led by joint secretary Priya Ranjan, and farmer representatives. Ranjan also visited the ailing farmer leader, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose indefinite hunger strike has now entered its 54th day. “We urged him to accept medical aid and break his fast to participate in the February 14 meeting in Chandigarh,” Ranjan told reporters.
Dallewal’s health raises alarms
Dallewal, the convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), has lost 20 kg during his fast and is in critical condition. Refusing medical intervention, he has become the symbolic face of the protest, which centers on demands for a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.
Adding urgency to the situation, 10 more farmers joined the hunger strike on Saturday, raising the total number of fasting protesters to 121. Kotra reported that one of the strikers vomited blood, highlighting the dire state of their health.
Protests enter second year
Farmers under the banners of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been camping at the Punjab-Haryana border since February 13, 2023. Denied permission to march to Delhi, they have stood firm, pressing for their demands despite four inconclusive rounds of talks with the Centre last year.
