Punjab’s elderly farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal ended his indefinite hunger strike for 131 days on Sunday. He started a hunger strike on 26 November last year on the different demands of agitating farmers. These demands include legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
A day later, Jagjit Singh decided to end the strike by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu to end the fast unto death. Dallewal announced during the ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’ held at Sarhind in Fatehgarh Sahib district of Punjab that he was ending his indefinite strike.
We have to make a strong ‘front’: Dallewal
Addressing the gathering of farmers, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said, “All of you (me) had asked to end the fast unto death. For me, ‘Sangat’ (people) is ‘Rabba Da Roop’ (a form of God). I am grateful to all of you that you handle the movement the way you said. I respect your feelings.”
Talking about creating a strong front, he said, “The movement is going on. Even today I do not want to end the indefinite strike, but you asked me again and again (to end the fast) and I respect it. But I want to tell you and also assure that we will have to create a strong ‘front’. The fight will continue to take forward. MSP (guarantee) will have to be taken and a big ‘Front’ will have to be organized.
Hunger strike started on 26 November
Jagjit Singh Dallawal is a senior leader of the United Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) joint forum. On November 26 last year, he started his indefinite hunger strike to put pressure on the Center on the demands of farmers.
In January this year, after the central government was invited by the central government to negotiate, Dallewal started undergoing treatment at the protest site, but did not end his strike.
Shivraj Singh also appealed
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan appealed to Dallewal on Saturday to end the hunger strike. In a post on social media platform x, he said, “The conversation between representatives of the Government of India and representatives of farmer organizations is going on on the demands of the farmers. Jagjit Singh Dallewal is now back from the hospital and we wish them to be healthy. At the same time we also request them to end the hunger strike. We will interact with the representatives of the farmers organizations at 11 am on the next month of the next month.
Like Shivraj, Union Minister Bittu also made a similar appeal on Saturday. Bittu said, “Your health is very important and your life is valuable for the people of Punjab because your leadership will be needed for the struggle of farmers and agricultural laborers.”
He also informed that during the budget session, all BJP ministers and senior leaders took information about the farmer leader and greeted him. At the same time, Bittu appealed to Dallewal to end his hunger strike and come forward to discuss with the central government.