he Supreme Court-appointed high-powered committee met with Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) convener Jagjit Singh Dallewal at the Khanauri border on Monday, after he agreed to hold talks with the panel. Dallewal, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for 42 days, is protesting for legal guarantees on Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops and other farmer-related demands. The panel, led by former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Justice Nawab Singh, urged the protesting farmer leader to accept medical assistance as his health continues to deteriorate.

The urgency of the meeting was underscored by an evening health bulletin issued regarding Dallewal’s health, warning that even if the 70-year-old farmer leader ended his hunger strike immediately, his organs might not recover fully.

His physical condition — marked by severe weakness, inability to stand, and critical fluctuations in blood pressure — has become a focal point of the protest, symbolizing the farmers' unyielding resolve against perceived government apathy. The committee’s visit followed weeks of growing tensions, media attention, and legal battles over the protests at Punjab’s Shambhu and Khanauri borders, where thousands of farmers have gathered since February 2024. 

The meeting marked the culmination of months of attempts by the Supreme Court to mediate the ongoing standoff. The committee, established in September 2024, was tasked with building a bridge between the Central Government and the protesting farmers. Despite its repeated efforts, including an interim report submitted on December 10, farmers had so far refused to engage with the panel, accusing it of lacking real authority to negotiate on critical issues like MSP guarantees. 

Justice Nawab Singh, addressing the media after meeting Dallewal, said: “We have prayed to Waheguru for Dallewal’s recovery and have requested him to take medical aid. The committee’s role is to facilitate dialogue, but we do not have the mandate to directly engage with the Central Government on behalf of the farmers.”

“I came here today not to say that the agitation should end,” he said, adding, “but to say ‘your health should be good’.”

Dallewal’s poignant response during the meeting reflected the depth of the crisis. He reportedly told the panel, “Farming comes first; my health comes later.” This unrelenting stance has become emblematic of the broader movement, which aims to push for long-overdue agricultural reforms. 

Dallewal’s Declining Health

Dallewal’s health took a significant hit over the weekend when he suffered severe dizziness and vomiting following a nine-minute address at Kisan Mahapanchayat at Khanauri protest site on Saturday. Following the episode, he stopped consuming water, further aggravating his condition. On Sunday, his vital signs — though relatively stable — showed alarming trends, with doctors emphasizing the irreversible risks posed by prolonged fasting. His hunger strike began on November 26, 2024, and has drawn national and international attention, casting a harsh spotlight on the plight of farmers in India. 

The medical team present at the protest site remains on high alert, with volunteers and supporters growing increasingly anxious. However, Dallewal’s resolve to continue until meaningful dialogue with the Central Government is initiated has made the situation precarious. 

Going into the background, the protest at Shambhu and Khanauri borders has been ongoing since February 2024, driven by farmers’ demands for a legal framework guaranteeing MSP and resolving other agrarian issues. In July 2024, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the reopening of the Shambhu border within a week. Challenging the decision, Haryana Government appealed to the Supreme Court, which subsequently intervened.

SC, in August, instructed partial reopening for emergency services while forming a six-member mediation committee chaired by Justice Nawab Singh, comprising retired IPS officer BS Sandhu, agriculture expert Devinder Sharma, professor Ranjit Singh Ghuman, and an agricultural economist from Punjab Agricultural University Dr Sukhpal Singh.

In December, the committee reported that farmers had declined to engage in discussions, citing mistrust and lack of tangible outcomes. Following heightened tensions and legal submissions by the Punjab Government, the Supreme Court on Monday scheduled the next hearing for January 10, urging all stakeholders to consider humanitarian grounds.