‘Fast in 28th day, farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal may never recover fully’

BATHINDA: With his fast unto death entering the 28th day, farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal is experiencing such loss of health that he may not be able to recover fully, said a team of doctors which has been attending to him on Monday.
His blood pressure is fluctuating significantly, while his kidneys and liver are impacted due to reduced intake of nutrients, said doctors.
Concerned over his worsening condition, farmers are unhappy with politics being played over the fast and blamed politicians for using Dallewal's fast unto death to settle scores or take on each other, instead of doing anything to either prevail upon or force the central govt to step in to save the life of the farm leader.
"Let politicians come, but not only for photo opportunities; they should really do constructive things to save his life," said farm activist Amarjit Singh. Farmers who have been staying near Dallewal's tent said politicians allowed the entire winter session to pass by. "While they raised various issues to take on the central govt, they only symbolically raised the issue of Dallewal, and that too by only moving adjournment motions which were never taken seriously," said a couple of farmers who have been staying near Dallewal's tent in Khanauri for many days.
Farm activist Harnek Singh, who has been staying in Khanauri for long, said BJP Punjab president Sunil Jakhar also played politics by finding fault in visits by political leaders for photo opportunities. "But he too did nothing to make his own party govt do the needful in initiating dialogue," he said. Earlier, Union minister of state Ravneet Singh Bittu spoke of initiating talks, which never happened, said Harnek.
Farmers also said it rained through the day on Monday, causing trouble to those staying in tractor-trailers and tents, similar to the previous protest on the borders of Delhi.
Abhimanyu Kohad, a confidant of Dallewal, said, "It is Farmers' Day today. When the slogan of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan was given, farmers did a lot to make the country self-sufficient in food grains, but now the govt is not ready to listen to farmers." He said farmers will hold candlelight marches on Tuesday and a fast on Dec 26 when a meeting of social, religious organisations, and trade unions will be held.
He also mentioned that farmers from Uttar Pradesh reached Khanauri on Monday, while a jatha left from Sirsa for Khanauri on foot.