Farmers' leader on hunger strike for more than 40 days

Jagjit Singh Dallewal, 70, began his protest in late November. Despite being in critical conditions, he refused medical treatment yesterday. Indian farmers in Punjab and Haryana have been asking for action for nearly two years without any response from the central government.

Khanauri (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s health continues to worsen after more than 40 days on a hunger strike. Yesterday, the 70-year-old leader of the Indian farmer movement refused medical treatment despite appeals from various parties.

Starting in February 2023, Indian farmers have been asking the central government for legal guarantees regarding minimum prices and other reforms in favour of their sector, protesting along the border between the states of Punjab and Haryana.

Led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha unions, farmers' protests are fuelled by unresolved and ignored demands, like pensions for farmworkers, debt cancellation, and implementation of a series of recommendations by government commissions.

Above all, farmers want a guaranteed minimum price, i.e. the price at which the government buys crops from them. They say that they are vulnerable to exploitation and major economic losses if structural reforms are not implemented.

Dallewal, who began his hunger strike on 26 November, today met with the committee set up by the Supreme Court, without concrete results, disappointed by both the court and the government, accusing them of neglecting farmers.

The Punjab government, under pressure from the Supreme Court and public opinion, dispatched an emergency medical team.

“His condition is critical . . . As we cannot provide treatment, we are managing in whatever way we can,” said yesterday Dr Avtar Singh, who is monitoring Dallewal’s state.

The unions recently warned that protests could spread nationwide. In fact, for farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar, “If anything happens to Dallewal, then there will be a ‘blot’ on the tenure of the present government at the Centre which may never be cleaned.”

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha also called on President Droupadi Murmu to intervene, urging her to meet a delegation of farmers. The President’s Secretariat, citing her agenda, turned down the request, fuelling further anger among protesters.

The Punjab government has also been criticised for its slow response.

For its part, the Supreme Court has made it clear that it did not order an end to the hunger strike, but insisted on the need to hospitalise Dallawel to make sure that he remains alive.

• india
• farmer protest
• hunger strike
• jagjit singh dallewal
• price support
• supreme court