Veteran farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Sunday ended his 131-day fast following fervent appeals from farmers gathered at a mahapanchayat at Sirhind grain market. Dallewal had been on a hunger strike since November 26 last year to press for various demands of the farmers, including a legal guarantee on MSP for all crops.
A day earlier, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had urged Dallewal to end his fast. Sources said retired DIG Narinder Bhargav also played a key role in convincing the veteran leader.
While announcing the end of his fast, Dallewal asserted that despite the Centre and Punjab Government’s “coercive” actions, including dismantling protest sites at Khanauri and Shambhu, damaging tractor-trailers and confiscating activists’ belongings, the movement would continue with renewed determination.
He emphasised that his decision to break the fast was conditional upon farmers’ unwavering support until all demands were met. “I want an assurance that we will have to put up a stronger morcha. The fight is on. The MSP (guarantee) has to be taken and a bigger morcha has to be put up. Do you agree,” he asked the gathering.
“It is not my wish (to end fast) but with a heavy heart, I accept your order. For me, the word of the sangat is God’s word,” he said. Dallewal accused both governments of “cowardice and betrayal”, referring to an alleged plot to detain him after a meeting in Chandigarh. “They can suppress us but never silence us,” he vowed.
