Farmer leader Dallewal urges religious leaders to press Centre to accept farmers' demands

NEW DELHI: Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been fasting for 48 days, wrote a letter to various religious leaders, requesting them to ask the Central government to fulfil farmers' demands, legal guarantee to minimum support price for crops.

Since November 26 last year, Dallewal, who serves as the convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), has been observing hunger strike at the Khanauri border between Punjab and Haryana. He has consistently declined any medical assistance and his health has been continuosly deteriorating.

The letter mentioned the ongoing farmers' protests at Khanauri and Shambhu border points over various demands during the past 11 months.

It mentioned the death of farmer Subhkaran Singh and injuries sustained by others during police interventions against their protest.

The letter also referenced a recent parliamentary panel's recommendation for legal guarantee to MSP, stating that such a measure would "greatly benefit the farmers, rural economy and the country."

The implementation of MSP guarantee legislation would enhance farmers' purchasing capacity, contributing significantly to the nation's economic growth, according to farmer representatives.

The farmers mentioned that letters were sent to the Prime Minister, Vice President and Supreme Court justices over the previous 48 days, "but no one paid any attention to our letter nor responded to it."

"History is a witness to the fact that whenever a government goes astray from the right path, saints and religious leaders have worked to bring the government to the right path.

"We request you to ask the present government to fulfill promises made to farmers so that the farmers can get their rights and suicides of farmers can be stopped," it said.

Since February 13, farmers affiliated with SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have established protest camps at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana, following security forces' prevention of their planned march to Delhi.