Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar on Thursday stated that the duration of their protest is contingent upon the Centre’s actions, emphasising that there should be no obstacles in accepting their demands, particularly since a parliamentary panel has recommended a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

As Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s indefinite hunger strike reached its 38th day, Kohar expressed concern over Dallewal’s deteriorating health, noting that he has put his life on the line for farmers’ rights.

When asked about the continuation of their protest at the Khanauri and Shambhu borders, Kohar responded, “That is in the hands of the Centre. If they fulfill our demands…” Following the Supreme Court’s remarks about some farmer leaders making irresponsible media statements that complicate the situation, he conveyed that they are still reviewing the court’s observations and highlighted the importance of analyzing the day’s proceedings.

Kohar clarified that the farmer leaders have been articulating Dallewal’s sentiments regarding the Centre’s need to fulfill its promises. “We always respect constitutional bodies,” he affirmed. He recounted a recent incident in which, despite Dallewal’s critical health condition and a brief fainting spell, he still offered to connect via video conference for court proceedings related to farmers’ issues.

Kohar expressed the necessity for the Supreme Court to instruct the Centre to implement the legal guarantee for MSP, as recommended by the parliamentary panel, stating, “We want the promises made to farmers to be fulfilled.” Farmers, represented by SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been camped at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points since February 13, following the halt of their march to Delhi by security forces.

Kohar noted, “Dallewal ji’s fast has entered its 38th day. A senior leader has put his life at stake. On January 4, to honor his wish to connect with farmers, a significant gathering will take place at the Khanauri morcha where he will deliver an important message.”

When queried about the possibility of Dallewal receiving medical assistance such as intravenous fluids, Kohar indicated that there had been no discussions on such measures. Regarding a recent meeting of a Punjab government team, led by retired Additional DGP Jaskaran Singh, with Dallewal and other farmer leaders, Kohar mentioned that both farmers’ forums would clarify their position once there are concrete developments.

He also expressed concerns about Dallewal’s health, highlighting significant weight loss and fluctuating blood pressure, along with adverse effects on his kidney and liver function due to prolonged fasting.

On the same day, the Supreme Court criticised the Punjab government, asserting that both officials and certain farmer leaders were misrepresenting attempts to break Dallewal’s fast in the media. Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan clarified that the court had never ordered the cessation of Dallewal’s protest, expressing concern solely for his health and urging immediate medical assistance.

Furthermore, the court issued a notice to the Centre regarding a fresh petition from Dallewal requesting the Union government to honor promises made to protesting farmers in 2021, including the legal guarantee of MSP following the repeal of the farm laws.

In the meantime, farmer leaders from various states have also arrived in Khanauri to support Dallewal, with Lakhwinder Singh Aulakh facilitating their introductions. P.R. Pandian from the All Farmers Associations of Tamil Nadu confirmed that there is solidarity among farmers for Dallewal’s hunger strike in pursuit of their demands, while another leader, Shanthakumar from Karnataka, drew parallels between the Punjab farmers’ protests and the national freedom movement, urging the Centre to address the issue promptly.

Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor announced on Thursday his decision to undertake a fast unto death in order to demand the cancellation of the recently conducted Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam, which has faced allegations of question paper leaks.

This announcement was made at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, situated just a short distance from where candidates have been protesting for nearly two weeks.

Kishor stated, “My demands include cancellation of the exam and the organization of fresh tests. I also seek action against corrupt officials who have allegedly sold posts to be filled through this exam,” as reported.

Protests in Patna began on December 13 following the BPSC’s Integrated Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024. Candidates have been calling for cancellation due to claims of irregularities, including late distribution of question papers; some received their papers nearly an hour after the exam’s start time. Additionally, allegations regarding torn answer sheets have further fueled suspicions of malpractice.

Despite these allegations, Bihar authorities have dismissed calls for a complete cancellation of the exam. The BPSC Examination Controller, Rajesh Kumar Singh, asserted that there is “no question of cancelling the entire BPSC exam,” emphasising that only the preliminary exam at the Bapu Pariksha Parisar center was canceled due to disturbances caused by protesters.

Kishor has previously expressed support for the protesting candidates, emphasizing the need to eradicate systemic corruption in Bihar’s examination processes, while alleging that no examination in the state has transpired without issues related to corruption or leaking of papers.

On December 26, he issued an “ultimatum” to the Bihar government, urging that the concerns of BPSC aspirants be resolved within a three-day period, failing which he would escalate protests personally.

Following a meeting between a delegation of protesters and Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena on Monday, Kishor indicated that he would wait for “48 hours” for action from the Nitish Kumar administration concerning the allegations of paper leaks from the December 13 CCE before intensifying the protests if necessary.

Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa has unveiled a groundbreaking 10-minute ambulance service specifically for residents of Gurugram. Users of the Blinkit app can now conveniently order ambulance services directly to their location within just 10 minutes during emergencies.

In a detailed post on X, Dhindsa emphasised that this initiative is a significant step toward addressing the need for fast and reliable ambulance services in urban areas. The initial launch will feature five ambulances operating in Gurugram, with plans to introduce the option for booking Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances as the service expands to additional regions.

“As we expand the service to more areas, you will start seeing an option to book a Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance through the @letsblinkit app,” he said.

All ambulances will be equipped with vital life-saving equipment, including oxygen cylinders, automated external defibrillators (AED), stretchers, monitors, and essential emergency medications. Each vehicle will be staffed by a trained paramedic, an assistant, and a qualified driver to ensure optimal care during emergencies.

“Our ambulances are equipped with essential life-saving equipment, including oxygen cylinders, AED (Automated External Defibrillator), stretcher, monitor, suction machine, and essential emergency medicines and injections,” he said.

Although Dhindsa did not disclose the pricing of this service, he highlighted that generating profit is not the primary objective. “We will operate this service at an affordable cost for customers and invest in really solving this critical problem for the long term. We are carefully scaling this service up as it is important and new to us. Our aim is to expand to all major cities over the next two years,” he stated.

“Profit is not a goal here. We will operate this service at an affordable cost for customers and invest in really solving this critical problem for the long term,” the Blinkit CEO said.

This ambulance service marks Blinkit’s second significant launch within the week. Previously, Dhindsa announced the introduction of an electric vehicle fleet designed to handle large orders, including electronics and party supplies, emphasizing their current availability in Delhi and Gurugram with plans for expansion to other cities soon.