Key Points:
- Critical Condition: Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, on hunger strike for 43 days, has a pulse rate of 42. Vital organs, including his kidneys, liver, and lungs, are failing.
- Protest for MSP Law: Dallewal is demanding a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers.
- Central Government’s Silence: The government has yet to take meaningful steps to address the hunger strike, raising concerns of negligence.
- Historical Parallel: Dallewal’s fast unto death draws comparisons to the tragic demise of environmentalist Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand, who died during a similar protest in 2018.
- Escalating Agitation: Growing crowds at the Khanauri border suggest the potential for the movement to spread nationwide if the government continues to ignore demands.
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Siddhupur) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, 70, has reached a critical stage in his 43-day hunger strike at the Khanauri border. With his pulse rate plummeting to 42 and his vital organs failing, the farmer leader’s life hangs by a thread. Despite his deteriorating condition, the central government has shown no signs of initiating dialogue, intensifying fears of unrest among the farming community.
A Fight for Farmers’ Rights
Dallewal’s hunger strike, which began on November 26, is aimed at pressing the government to implement a legal guarantee for MSP, along with other promises made during the 2020 farmers’ agitation. Farmer organizations accuse the government of reneging on its written assurances, including loan waivers and the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations.
Health in Decline
The situation is dire, with Dallewal’s kidneys, liver, and lungs on the verge of collapse. Doctors have issued grim warnings, stating that even if the hunger strike ends, his recovery is uncertain. Despite being a cancer patient, Dallewal has refused both food and medication, further complicating his condition.
Government’s Apathy Sparks Anger
The central government’s inaction has drawn widespread criticism. The Agriculture Minister’s recent statement deferring responsibility to the Supreme Court has fueled frustration among protesters. Farmer leaders fear that the government’s silence could be an attempt to avenge its perceived embarrassment during the failed negotiations of 2020.
Historical Parallels to Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand
Dallewal’s protest has drawn comparisons to the case of Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand, who died in 2018 after fasting for 112 days to demand action on cleaning the Ganga River. His death highlighted the government’s apathy towards non-violent protests, and Dallewal’s supporters fear history may repeat itself.
A Movement on the Verge of Escalation
The gathering at the Khanauri border is growing by the day, with farmers from across India joining the protest. Many warn that if Dallewal’s condition worsens or he succumbs to his fast, the movement could erupt into nationwide unrest. Protesters have reiterated their readiness to take their demands beyond Punjab and Haryana if ignored.
Calls for Immediate Action
Activists and political analysts have urged the government to act decisively to prevent further escalation. They warn that ignoring the farmers’ demands risks turning a non-violent protest into a volatile confrontation.
