Amid the ongoing protest at the Punjab-Haryana border, farmers have announced that they will hold a “Kisan Mahapanchayat” in Khanauri on January 4.

A unanimous decision was reached by the leaders of farmer outfits, Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Majdoor Morcha, to hold the Mahapanchayat as a mark of protest against the Centre, with their demands for a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.

“On January 4, lakhs of farmers will be fathering at the Khanauri border and a Mahapanchayat will be held as leaders of both forms have decided,” farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

The decision comes against the backdrop of SKM leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s fast-unto-death at the Khanouri border, which he began on November 26.

“Jagjit Singh Dallewal told us that he wanted to see all those farmers who he has served over the last 44 years. As we all know that his health is deteriorating continuously, doctors are saying that his health situation could be out of control any time,” Kohar added.

On Saturday, the Supreme Court pulled up protesting farmers objecting to attempts by the Punjab government to hospitalise farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, while also lashing out at the Punjab government for their failure to shift the farmer leader, who has now gone without food for 34 days, to hospital.

The court’s stern remarks came while hearing a contempt petition against the Punjab chief secretary for non-compliance with its December 20 order regarding medical aid to Dallewal, who is scheduled to address the “Mahapanchayat” on January 4, and convince him to go to hospital.

Meanwhile, Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh said a medical board was constituted and a team of eight doctors was monitoring the health of Dallewal. The advocate, citing the compliance report, said efforts were made to persuade the SKM leader.

Jagjit Singh Dallewal, 70, has emerged as the face of Kisan Andolan 2.0. The ailing leader’s fragile health has drawn attention from the government, the Opposition, and even the Supreme Court.

With inputs from ANI