December 25, 2024 – Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal is on his 29th day of hunger strike, continuing to spiral down health-wise.
For the last 29 days, 66-year-old Dallewal has been on protest at the Khanauri border between Punjab and Haryana, demanding a legal guarantee of the Minimum Support Price for crops and other issues related to farmers.
Health Complications Grow
Dallewal’s health condition has prompted serious suggestions from the attending doctors.
On any estimated amount, it is said that Dallewal has lost nearly 15 kg during the fast and that he might face cardiac arrest and multiple organ failure from what the doctors termed as a “silent killer” if he defies a fast on.
But the farmer leader has vowed that he would only give up his hunger strike if the government agrees to the demands put forth by the farmers or martyr himself at the protest site.
Demands and Negation by Government
The primary demand of the protesting farmers at the moment is a law to be enacted to guarantee MSP for crops.
This demand finds itself well documented in the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, which states that such a law would benefit the rural economy tremendously.
Members of Parliament across the political spectrum have empathized with that recommendation.
Still, there has been no concrete step taken forward by the central government on the implementation of such recommendations as of now.
Support and Solidarity Actions
In solidarity with Jagjit Singh Dallewal, farmers and like-minded supporters have organized a number of protests:
Candlelight Marches: On December 24, candlelight marches would be held across the country by 5:30 PM to support Dallewal’s cause.
Symbolic Hunger Strikes: Symbolic hunger strikes will be held on December 26, the first anniversary of Dallewal’s hunger strike.
They will mostly take place at tehsil and district levels from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Punjab Bandh: Farmer leaders have called for a state-wide shutdown in Punjab on December 30 to pressurize the government to take action on their demands.
Political Engagements
Dallewal has received the visitation of some political leaders with varying degrees of appreciation:
Charanjit Singh Channi: The erstwhile Chief Minister of Punjab and head of the parliamentary standing committee on agriculture came to see Dallewal, asking the central government to accept the committee’s reports and enact the Minimum Support Price Act.
Deepender Hooda: Congress MP from Haryana visited Dallewal to stress the necessity of implementing the Swaminathan Committee’s MSP recommendations by the government-a focal demand that has an underpinning in the agreement of 2021.
Legal and Administrative Developments
The Supreme Court has instructed the Punjab government to make sure a health check is done on Dallewal considering the critical nature of his condition.
Related organizations with the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha Punjab have organized a plea to the President of India to intervene and induce the central government into negotiations with the farmers so as to protect Dallewal’s life.
As Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s hunger strike proceeds into the 29th day, the jigsaw continues to fall into pieces.
The rigid orthodoxy of Dallewal and his supporters suggests the malaise of farming in India.
The most significant test of the Modi government in the coming days will be its response to the agitation of the protesting farmers.
