PATIALA HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO STATION AN ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT AMBULANCE AT KHANAURI

Tikait meets Dallewal who has been on hunger strike since Nov 26 at Khanauri

- Bhavey Nagpal

PATIALA: Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leader Rakesh Tikait met Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose fast-unto-death entered the 18th day, on Friday even as farmers announced to make a fresh attempt to cross over to Haryana from Shambhu border on Saturday as part of their 'Delhi Chalo' march.

A group of 101 farmers, under the banner of SKM (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), pegged "marjeevdas" (those ready to sacrifice their lives), will start the march at 12pm.

KMM convener Sarwan Singh Pandher told HT, "Though our undefended farmers will not be able to cross over to Haryana, given the presence of thousands of security personnel, we will take our chance, sheerly to expose the BJP-led central and Haryana governments who are not letting peaceful protesters to march to the National Capital."

Meanwhile, Dallewal's health is said to have further deteriorated, with doctors recommending immediate hospitalisation.

Fearing that the Punjab Police may whisk off the leader, farmers have beefed up the security around him. "No unidentified person is allowed to get close to Dallewal. Round-the-clock vigil is being kept at the protest site to identify and nab unidentified persons," said farmer leader Kaka Singh Kotra. Dallewal, with the support of doctors, was, however, brought near the main stage from his makeshift room on Friday. Though he couldn't speak, he responded to farmers through gestures.