Dallewal Prioritizes Farmers' Lives Over His Own on 40th Day of Hunger Strike
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Chandigarh, Jan 4 (NationPress) Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, now in the 40th day of his indefinite hunger strike advocating for farmers' demands, emphasized that he is more concerned about the well-being of farmers than his own health.
"My life holds less significance compared to the lives of millions of Indian farmers who are suffering immensely. Over 700,000 farmers have tragically taken their own lives due to the crisis in the agricultural sector," Dallewal stated during his speech at a mahapanchayat in Khanauri, Punjab, which is adjacent to Haryana.
The mahapanchayat was organized to rally support for Dallewal, who has been enduring a hunger strike amidst a stalemate in negotiations and advocating for long-standing farmer demands, including a legal minimum support price (MSP) for crops, loan waivers, and necessary reforms to enhance the agricultural landscape.
Farmers, represented by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been stationed at the borders of Shambhu and Khanauri between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, 2024, to support their demands.
In the meantime, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian called on Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to resolve the deadlock and rekindle discussions between the government and the protesting farmer unions as soon as possible.
Chouhan was conducting virtual meetings regarding reforms in the agricultural sector with Agriculture and Horticulture Ministers across states and union territories.
Khudian urged the Union Minister, highlighting that Dallewal's fast has reached a critical juncture. "For 40 days, he has been sacrificing his health, and it is crucial for the Centre to take swift action to address these issues and protect his life."
The minister reiterated that the state government is committed to supporting the farmers' legitimate demands and is eager to collaborate with the Union government to foster a prosperous agricultural environment.
Additionally, he raised another pressing concern, requesting Rs 15,000 per acre as gap funding to ensure farmers receive adequate returns from alternative crops, aiming to reduce dependence on the water-intensive paddy cultivation.
