The Khanauri border remained on high alert on Monday as the farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal entered the 35th day of his hunger strike, repeatedly defying Punjab Government’s pleas to seek medical treatment. With the Supreme Court’s December 31 deadline for his hospitalization approaching, security around the protest site has been intensified. Farmers, apprehensive of a potential eviction operation under the cover of darkness, have also reinforced their presence, determined to protect Dallewal from being forcibly removed. 
 
With time running out, tensions at Khanauri remain high. The farmers’ determination to protect Dallewal and the Government’s obligation to comply with judicial directives have created a deadlock. There were also reports that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann may also visit Khanauri to meet the farmer leader. Notably, most of the Cabinet Ministers, including Harpal Singh Cheema, Aman Arora, have already visited Dallewal.
 
Meanwhile, Dallewal has accused the state authorities of preparing to detain him, claiming that bus drivers had been mobilized for the operation. Dallewal claimed that the drivers have refused to participate, signaling solidarity with the farmers. “Authorities are planning to detain me, and preparations to take me into custody are underway, including mobilizing bus drivers for the operation. But, they have refused to cooperate,” said Dallewal in a video message.
 
Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing scheduled for Tuesday, Dallewal made a heartfelt appeal, stating, “We are also a part of India.” He urged the Central Government to address the concerns of farmers and reconsider their policies.
 
At the same time, the Punjab Government is also facing mounting pressure from the Supreme Court to ensure Dallewal’s hospital admission without resorting to force.
 
Punjab Government’s repeated efforts to persuade Dallewal to accept medical treatment have, so far, been unsuccessful. A state delegation, led by retired Additional DGP Jaskaran Singh, has made multiple visits to the protest site, urging him to accept medical aid. Despite his deteriorating health, Dallewal remained resolute, refusing to end his hunger strike until the Central Government addresses key farmer demands, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) on crops and debt relief. 
 
Doctors have been conducting biweekly medical checks at the protest site, and while Jaskaran Singh has described Dallewal’s condition as “weak but stable”, concerns over his health continue to grow. The Supreme Court has expressed dissatisfaction with the State Government’s handling of the situation, warning of potential contempt proceedings if the deadline is not met. 
 
Farmers at the Khanauri site have ramped up security, fearing a repeat of the November 26 operation, when police forcibly removed Dallewal from the protest site a night before he was to begin his hunger strike.
 
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher has called upon youth from nearby villages to join the protest, urging vigilance against any potential eviction attempt. “We are prepared to face any consequences. This is a peaceful protest, and the Government will be held accountable if it resorts to force,” Pandher declared. 
 
“Punjab Government will have to stand with three crore Punjabis. They should not attempt to conduct an (eviction) operation at the Khanauri border by taking the excuse of the court,” he said.
 
Pandher indicated that the farmers were prepared for any eventuality. “Dallewal Saab has made it clear that he will not back down. Now, it is up to the Centre and the Punjab Government to decide whether they are willing to bear the responsibility for farmers’ bloodshed,” he remarked. Pandher further revealed that he had urged the youth from villages near Patiala to assemble at the Khanauri border by Sunday night, aiming to thwart any police attempts to remove Dallewal under the cover of darkness.
 
Opposition leaders have all along been criticizing the Aam Aadmi Party led Punjab Government for its handling of the crisis. Congress leader and the Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha Partap Singh Bajwa on Monday condemned the heavy police deployment around Patiala and accused the government of attempting to intimidate peaceful protesters.
 
“Reports of a heavy police presence at Patiala Police Lines have raised serious concerns…What is the purpose of mobilizing such a large force? Is it an attempt to intimidate or harm peaceful protesters? Let me make this clear — if the Punjab Police resorts to force and any harm comes to the farmers, the responsibility will fall directly on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Such an act would be an unforgivable betrayal of the very people who elected him,” he said.
 
Bajwa further criticized Mann's failure to address the issue at the national level, asking, “Why hasn't Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann taken the initiative to approach the Prime Minister or the Home Minister to resolve this critical situation? Why is he allowing bureaucrats and police officials to take charge, instead of stepping up as the leader? The farmers' demands, particularly for a legal guarantee on MSP, are not merely state matters; they require national attention.”
 
Punjab Government, however, has maintained that it is working towards a peaceful resolution, urging the Central Government to engage with the farmers. Government officials have acknowledged the challenges, stating that they are exploring solutions that comply with the Apex Court’s order while avoiding escalation.
 
A senior official acknowledged the government’s deep concerns over the potential repercussions of using force, emphasizing that the farmers needed to understand the gravity of the situation. “There is a risk of loss of lives. Farmers are stationed to protect Dallewal, and the police might be compelled to take drastic measures,” the official said. 
 
Meanwhile, AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang has strongly condemned the Central Government for its persistent inaction regarding the demands of farmers protesting at the Punjab-Haryana border. He called for immediate dialogue to address their legitimate concerns, particularly the alarming health of farmer leader Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for over a month.
 
Kang emphasized that the people of Punjab are deeply concerned about Dallewal's deteriorating condition and urged the Central Government to take immediate action. “Despite several efforts by the Punjab Chief Minister and the State Government to open communication, the Centre has remained unresponsive, worsening the deadlock,” he said.
 
Also referencing the Supreme Court's recent call for dialogue with the farmers, Kang stressed that the Centre’s silence is exacerbating the farmers' suffering and public distress. He appealed to the Centre to break its silence and address the farmers' issues, which have gone unresolved for too long.
 
The Supreme Court’s deadline for Dallewal’s hospitalization leaves the Punjab Government with limited options. If Dallewal continues to refuse medical intervention, the state could face contempt proceedings or be forced to use police action to comply with the order. Either scenario carries significant risks, both for the government and for the farmers.