At Khanauri, farm leader Hardo ends hunger strike
Farm leader Sukhjit Singh Hardo Jhande, who was on an indefinite fast at Khanauri border since November 26 after the detention of SKM (Non-political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, today ended his fast. Dallewal offered him coconut water to end his fast. Meanwhile, the indefinite fast by Dallewal today entered Day 5.
After the release of Dallewal from police custody last evening, SKM (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha today decided to cancel the gherao of residence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on December 1 at Sangrur.
State general secretary of the BKU (Sidhupur) Kaka Singh Kotra today confirmed that they had cancelled the gherao of the Sangrur residence of the CM as the demand to release Dallewal had been fulfilled by the state government.
Addressing the gathering at the morcha site at Khanauri border today, Dallewal asked the presidents and other office-bearers of farm unions to perform their duty responsibly. He said he was happy that his family had been supporting him in this cause fully.
He said his organisation had urged him — being a cancer patient — not to undertake fast, but he refused, saying that being the head of the organisation, he cannot run away from responsibility.
Dallewal said he knew that this agitation would go on for a long while but they would not return home without victory, for which they are ready to even sacrifice their lives.
Sukhjit Singh Hardo Jhande said that in case any untoward incident happened and the morcha needs his sacrifice, he would immediately present himself at the morcha site to observe indefinite fast. He also said that their programme of December 6 stands and they would depart for Delhi on foot in the form of jathas.
Lakhwinder Singh Aulakh, state president of BKU (Ekta), said that Hardo Jhande had postponed his fast on the decision of SKM (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. He said the Mann government had initiated action against Dallewal to damage the farmers’ movement.
Baldev Singh Sirsa, state president of BKU (Sirsa), said that both forums had taken a decision at a meeting that only one person would observe fast. So it was decided that only Dallewal would continue his fast at present.
