SC Asks Protesting Farmers to Adopt Gandhian Way
Deccan ChronicleNEW DELHI: Prodding the protesting farmers to adopt the Gandhian way, the Supreme Court on Friday observed that the protesters at the Shambhu border could temporarily shift the venue and clear the highways or perhaps even temporarily suspend the ongoing agitation with a view to enable the committee to make its recommendation after due consideration by the stakeholders. The apex court also voiced concern over the deteriorating health of Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a fast-unto-death for the last 17 days, and asked the Centre and Punjab government representatives to immediately meet with the farmer leader and provide immediate medical aid but warned against the use of any force to break his protest. On the deteriorating health of Mr Dallewal, the top court said, "It is the bounden duty of the state of Punjab and the Union of India to take all peaceful measures and provide adequate immediate medical aid to Mr Dallewal without forcing him to break the fast unless it is imperative to do so to save his life." The high-powered committee, constituted on September 2 under former Punjab and Haryana high court judge Nawab Singh to resolve the grievances of farmers agitating at the Shambhu border, suggested solutions including examining the possibility of giving legal sanctity to MSP and offering direct income support.