Indian farmer, 68, refuses hospital care as hunger strike hits 44 days - Jagjit Singh Dallewal says he is ready to die if government does not heed demands of farmers

A 70-year-old farmer leader in India has been on hunger strike for more than 40 days in a bid to push the federal government to accept demands of protesting farmers. Doctors say that Jagjit Singh Dallewal's health has deteriorated and that he is "unable to speak", but he and his supporters have refused medical aid so far.

Jagjit Singh Dallewal's health worsens after 42 days of hunger strike, with fluctuating blood pressure and medical concerns raised by doctors.

However, just two days after his meeting with the PM, on February 21, 2024, farmer Shubhkaran Singh was killed at the Khanauri border during a clash as farmers attempted to march toward the Haryana border. Tear gas shells and rubber bullets were fired from the Haryana side.

The health of farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for 41 days, deteriorated significantly in the 24 hours after his address at a mahapanchayat at the Khanauri protest site on the Punjab-Haryana border on Saturday (January 4).