THE Punjab Government on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that though meetings were held with Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on an indefinite fast at Khanauri border, and other farmers, they had refused to interact with its high-powered committee. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan was informed by Punjab advocate general Gurminder Singh that the committee invited the protesting farmers on December 17, but they declined to engage in a dialogue. Singh said the State Government was trying to persuade the farmers on a daily basis but suggested their demands could be directly submitted to court.

 

“We clarify that court’s doors are always open to any suggestion or demand by farmers directly or through their authorised representative,” the top court said. The bench took note of Dallewal’s health and asked the Punjab government to extend medical aid to him without any further delay. Punjab: Train services affected due to farmers’ ‘rail roko’: TRAIN services in Punjab were affected as farmers squatted on rail tracks on Wednesday as part of their three-hour ‘Rail Roko’ protest to press the Centre into accepting their various demands, including a legally binding minimum support price for crops. The call for the ‘rail roko’ was given by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said farmers have been squatted on rail tracks at many places from 12 noon to 3 pm.