Last Updated:
Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, 70, reportedly lost consciousness days after his indefinite hunger strike to pressure the Centre to accept the demands of agitating farmers.
Jagjit Singh Dallewal had been protesting for farmers’ rights for weeks now and his health has deteriorated sharply after his hunger strike. (PTI/File)
The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Punjab government to take proper measures to ensure that no harm is caused to fasting farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose health has rapidly deteriorated to a critical condition in the last 24 hours.
An SC bench led by Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan directed Dallewal to be shifted to a makeshift hospital where his health could be monitored round-the-clock. The bench asked Punjab’s Advocate General Gurminder Singh to file an undertaking in regard to the shifting of the 70-year-old farmer leader to the hospital.
This came after doctors said that Dallewal, whose hunger strike-till-death entered the 24th day on Thursday, lost consciousness and fainted for 8-10 minutes, describing his condition as critical. The medical professionals also said he was at risk of cardiac arrest and multiple organ failure.
The Supreme Court had rapped the Punjab government on Thursday for not doing enough on Dallewal’s health and said he should be given urgent medical aid. Dallewal, a cancer patient, has been on an indefinite hunger strike at the Khanauri border since November 26 between Punjab and Haryana to press the Centre to accept the demands of the agitating farmers.
Punjab Govt Responsible For Dallewal’s Health: SC
The court said the Punjab government would be responsible for Dallewal’s health and asked the governments of both Punjab and Haryana to take a call on further steps to improve his health. The bench also referred to Dallewal’s medical reports along with blood sample and ECG tests, which said his health was deteriorating day by day.
“As per doctors, he requires hospitalisation. It’s the responsibility of State of Punjab to ensure the stable health condition of Dallewal, for which if he requires hospitalisation, the authorities will take a call if he can be shifted to the make-shift hospital said to have been set-up at some distance from the protest site or otherwise,” the apex court said in its order. The matter will be taken up again on January 2.
As the court told the Punjab government to convince the farmer leader to seek medical aid, Gurminder Singh told the bench on Thursday that the farmer leader had cooperated and undergone several tests. He said Dallewal’s health condition appeared to be stable as of now.
Doctors on Thursday said Dallewal has not eaten anything for the last 24 days. “Because of that, he is critical and he is at the risk of cardiac arrest and multi-organ failure. We are monitoring him every day,” said doctor Abhiraj, who is part of a team of doctors from 5 Rivers Heart Association, an NGO.
“His blood pressure dropped today. We raised his legs and gave a massage. But his situation is very sensitive. His life is hanging by a thread right now,” said the doctor, adding that “anything can happen at any time.” Another doctor said Dallewal felt dizzy, fell down, vomited and fainted while going to the washroom to take a bath.
Political Leaders Check On Dallewal
Meanwhile, political leaders including Haryana Congress MPs Deepender Hooda, Jaiprakash, Satpal Brahmachari, Varun Chaudhary, MLAs Ashok Arora, Ramkaran Kala, Naresh Selwal Induraj Narwala and Jassi Petwar, inquired about the health of Dallewal.
“The government should immediately accept the farmers’ demand for MSP guarantee and end Dallewal ji’s hunger strike. The government should give up its rigid stand, and immediately implement the agreement reached between the government and farmer organisations on 9 December 2021 after the farmers’ movement,” said Deepender Hooda.
Farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by the security forces.
The farmers’ march towards Delhi from the Shambhu border was disrupted as the security forces used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the ‘Jathha’ of farmers. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher claimed that 17 farmers were injured in the incident while also claiming that several farmers were in serious condition.
(with PTI inputs)
