Patiala: Hours after alleging harassment by protesting farmers at Punjab’s Khanauri border, doctors resumed their duties at the site on Wednesday following an intervention by authorities.
Nine doctors had submitted a letter to the medical superintendent of Rajindra Medical College and Hospital, Patiala, citing persistent harassment and verbal abuse by farmers and media personnel. The letter specifically named Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for 58 days, and his supporters as the perpetrators. The doctors expressed their inability to continue duties due to repeated incidents but later returned to their posts.
Intervention and Resolution
In the afternoon, Dr. Jagpalinder Singh, Civil Surgeon of Patiala, visited the Khanauri protest site to address the matter with Dallewal, farmer union leaders, and the medical team. Speaking to The Indian Express, Dr. Singh stated, “The matter has been sorted out, and now all the doctors have come back to Khanauri. The issues between the doctors and the farmers have been resolved.”
However, farmer union leaders provided a different perspective. Kaka Singh Kotra, General Secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union Sidhupur, claimed that dissatisfaction arose after a junior doctor’s failed attempt to administer IV fluids to Dallewal caused arm bleeding. Kotra said they had asked Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh to arrange private medical assistance, stating, “If the Government cannot provide proper care, we can arrange private doctors.”
Medical Assistance at Protest Site
The Punjab Government has deployed nearly 55 doctors, including senior and junior staff, in three shifts across the Khanauri protest area. Around eight to nine doctors remain stationed near Dallewal’s stage 24/7, supported by temporary hospital staff and acute life-saving ambulances.
Dr. Swaiman Singh, a US-based cardiologist whose 5 Rivers Heart Association has been assisting Dallewal, criticized the doctors’ complaint. He remarked, “The letter is a clear violation of medical ethics and an attempt to defame farmers. If the Government cannot provide care, I am ready to fly to India myself to support the farmers.”
Dallewal’s Hunger Strike and Protest Background
On the 58th day of his hunger strike, Dallewal was moved to a more spacious and ventilated temporary room near the stage to ensure adequate air and light. He has been on IV fluids since January 18.
Farmers have been protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders since February 2023, demanding legally guaranteed minimum support prices for crops, among 12 other demands. Despite tensions, efforts continue to maintain medical support for protestors while addressing concerns raised by doctors.
