By The Sampadak Express
Senior farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal ended his indefinite hunger strike on Sunday after 131 days of fasting. Dallewal had initiated the hunger strike on November 26 last year, demanding a legal guarantee for minimum support prices (MSP) for crops, along with other issues raised by protesting farmers.
The decision to end the hunger strike was made during a Kisan Mahapanchayat in Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib district, where Dallewal addressed a large gathering of farmers. He expressed gratitude for the support of the protesters, stating, “You all have asked me to end the fast unto death. I am indebted to you for taking care of the agitation. I respect your sentiments. I accept your order.”
The announcement came after appeals from Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, who urged Dallewal to end his fast. On Saturday, Chouhan expressed on social media, “The ongoing dialogue between the Government of India and the farmers’ representatives is continuing. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has returned from the hospital, and we wish him a speedy recovery. We also request him to end his hunger strike, and we will meet with farmers’ representatives on May 4 as planned.”
Bittu echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing Dallewal’s importance to the farmers’ movement. “Your health is more important, and your life is precious for the people of Punjab. Your leadership will always be needed for the struggle of farmers and farm laborers,” Bittu said.
Dallewal, a key figure representing the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), had gone on hunger strike to pressure the central government into meeting several demands, with a particular focus on enacting an MSP law. After the Centre initiated talks with farmer leaders in January, Dallewal received medical care at the Khanauri protest site but had initially chosen not to end his fast.
The central government has scheduled another round of discussions with farmers’ representatives on May 4, as confirmed by the ministers.
