2 days Ago By Javed Rasheedi
By Mohammad Javed Rasheedi Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a prominent figure in the ongoing farmers’ protest, ended his indefinite hunger strike on Sunday after nearly five months. His fast, which began on November 26, 2024, had become a powerful symbol of the persistent demand for a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP) and other pressing issues raised by protesting farmers across the country.Dallewal, a senior leader from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), announced the end of his fast during a Kisan Mahapanchayat in Sirhind, Punjab’s Fatehgarh Sahib district.
The announcement followed personal appeals by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, who urged Dallewal to prioritise his health and continue contributing to the movement through leadership and dialogue.His hunger strike was part of the broader resurgence of farmers’ protests that gained momentum in late 2024, with fresh demands to the Centre—primarily for a legal MSP framework, compensation for protest casualties and withdrawal of pending cases from earlier agitations.Protest pressure builds as talks with Centre resumeThough the Centre invited farmer leaders for dialogue in January, Dallewal refused to end his fast, even as he began receiving medical assistance at the Khanauri protest site.
His decision to now step back from the hunger strike signals a shift from passive resistance to renewed engagement in negotiations, with the next round of talks between farmer unions and the Centre scheduled for May 4.The end of Dallewal’s fast does not mark the end of the movement. The farmers’ protest remains active in various parts of Punjab, Haryana, and bordering areas of Delhi, with continued dharnas and mobilisations pressing the government to meet the core demands.
Union ministers, while expressing concern over Dallewal’s health, reiterated that discussions are ongoing and that the government is open to resolving issues through dialogue. Dallewal’s step is being seen by many within the movement as a strategic pause that allows the leadership to regroup and strengthen the push for results.The hunger strike, which ran parallel to wider demonstrations and tractor marches, had become a rallying point for thousands of farmers.
Its conclusion comes at a crucial moment, as farmer groups aim to maintain momentum and public pressure without compromising the health and safety of key leaders.The post Farmer leader Jagjit Dallewal steps back from hunger strike, but farmers’ protest for MSP continues appeared first on APN News..
