Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who announced a fast until death to press for farmers’ demands, was allegedly detained by the Police in the early hours of Tuesday, sparking widespread protests and political blame games. Dallewal, a prominent face in the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, had planned to begin a fast unto death at the Khanauri border to demand a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.
According to farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher, police forcibly removed Dallewal from the Khanauri border point at around 2 am and took him to the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMC) in Ludhiana for a medical checkup. His detention has drawn sharp criticism from both farmer unions and political figures.
Congress MP Dr. Amar Singh from Fatehgarh Sahib condemned the alleged “illegal arrest,” criticizing both the BJP-led central government and the AAP-led Punjab government. “It’s sad that on the morning of Samvidhan Diwas, he has been denied his right to peaceful protest,” he posted on X.
Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, however, placed the blame squarely on the Punjab government, accusing Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s administration of orchestrating the detention of the Punjab farmer leader to deflect attention from the farmers’ demands. “Detention of Farmer Leader Dallewal ji is orchestrated by the Bhagwant Mann government. No central agency is involved in his arrest. It is purely the work of the state police, aimed at shifting the blame onto central agencies to divert attention from the real issue. The central government always works for the welfare of farmers and does not engage in such tactics,” he said in a post on X.
Growing Unrest Among Farmers
Farmers have gathered at the Khanauri border to protest Dallewal’s detention, with multiple unions voicing their support. Pandher confirmed that the planned march to Delhi on December 6 would proceed, albeit on foot rather than using tractors. The march aims to bring together farmer unions from Punjab, Haryana, and other states to press their long-standing demands, including a legal MSP guarantee.
Despite not eating since being taken to Ludhiana, Dallewal remains in good health, according to his supporters. His detention has only fueled the resolve of farmer groups, who view it as an attempt to suppress their movement.
Dallewal had announced the fast until death to press the government into addressing the issues. The farmer unions showed solidarity by saying that if Dallewal were to lose his life during the hunger strike, another senior leader from the farmer unions would take his place and continue the fast unto death, according to Pandher.
Farmers’ Demands and Future Plans
The resurgence of the farmers’ movement in February this year emphasizes ongoing agrarian discontent stemming from unresolved issues from previous protests. The key catalyst for this renewed agitation has been the demand for a legal guarantee on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops, ensuring farmers a safety net against volatile market conditions.
While MSP currently exists for essential crops like wheat and paddy, farmers are advocating for its universal application and alignment with the MS Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, which propose MSPs set at 50% above the cost of production.
This wave of protests, led by prominent farmer unions such as the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, has seen thousands of farmers marching toward Delhi. Authorities have responded with heavy policing, including barricades, detentions, riot control and restrictions like internet blackouts in protest areas.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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