'Emergency jaise haalat': Vinesh Phogat appeals for nationwide support for farmers' protest

NEW DELHI: Wrestler-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat on Sunday called for nationwide participation in the farmers' protest at the Khanauri border in Haryana. The Congress leader joined the protest at the border.

While talking to news agency ANI, Phogat said there is an "emergency-like situation" in the country.

"He (farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal) is risking his life for others. I urge the people of Punjab, Haryana and the whole country to participate in this protest," Phogat said.



Phogat described the situation as akin to an emergency and called for the Prime Minister's direct involvement, saying, "There is an emergency-like situation in the country. The government will have to find a solution to this and PM Modi gives very big speeches, yesterday also he gave a speech in Parliament, but now something has to be done apart from giving speeches. We all need to come forward to show that we are united."

Farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni, reiterated their unchanged demands and advocated for discussions between farmers and the central government. "The demands of the protest are the same. They (farmers) are protesting silently, but no one is listening to them. The government should call the farmers for talks and find a solution," he said.



Earlier, Punjab director general of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav met farmer leaders at the Khanauri border and urged them to allow medical help for farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal.

Dallewal has been on a fast-unto-death since November 26 as part of the protest against the Central government, demanding minimum support prices (MSP) for crops.

Earlier, on December 13, the Supreme Court directed the Union government and Punjab to ensure medical aid for Dallewal. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan asked the authorities to engage in direct dialogue with him, saying, "his life is more precious than any agitation."

The farmers have now completed 308 days of protest. Participants include people from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Protest sites near Delhi's borders have seen thousands of farmers staying in temporary arrangements.

The farmers are pressing for 12 demands, including the implementation of MSP for crops, to be addressed by the central and state governments.

Meanwhile, protesting farmers suspended their march to Delhi on Saturday after several of them were injured during clashes with Haryana security personnel, who used teargas shells and water cannons to block the protesting farmers' third attempt in under 10 days to cross the Punjab-Haryana border.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said that 17 farmers were injured in the incident. He questioned the actions of the authorities, asking, "How are 101 farmers a danger to the law and order and peace of the country? You are debating the Constitution (in Parliament). Which Constitution allows the use of force against farmers?"

Regarding their next steps, he announced a tractor march in states outside Punjab on December 16, followed by a 'rail roko' protest in Punjab on December 18, from 12 noon to 3 pm.

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