Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal questions the delay in forming United Front amidst continued protest

Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal questions the delay in forming United Front amidst continued protest

Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal questions the delay in forming United Front amidst continued protest

Khanauri, January 28: On the 64th day of his indefinite fast, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal reiterated his unwavering commitment to continue fasting till the government meets all the demands of the farming community. For the first time since the Kisan Mahapanchayat on January 4 at Khanauri, Dallewal addressed a gathering while voicing worry over the delay in forming a united front among various factions of farmers.

farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal revealed that although he has accepted the government’s offer of talks scheduled on February 14, he is presently not in a position to physically travel from Kurukshetra to Chandigarh for negotiating with the government due to his presently undeclared poor health. “I call up all the farmer community throughout India to join us at the Khanauri border on February 12 as we mark our anniversary of protest.”. A big gathering will not only energize me but also make me stronger to attend the meeting with the Central Government delegation,” Dallewal stated.

In his address, Dallewal pointed out that for the success of the movement, and to urge the government to concede to the demands of farmers, an Akhand Path (continuous prayer) must be performed. He expressed disappointment and frustration at the fact that the call for unity has gone unheeded multiple times within the farmers’ movement, and it still remains a disputed issue.

Unity within the movement is a much debated issue. Dallewal referred to the January 4 resolution adopted during the Kisan Mahapanchayat in Moga, where SKM leaders and other farmer organization leaders had resolved to cooperate. “If a resolution was passed and supported by the people, then what is causing the delay? We are on the verge of victory, and all we need is one last push,” he said.

He further expressed disappointment over being left out of the ongoing discussions between the SKM (All-India) leaders and other farmer representatives. “I have not been attending these meetings, so I am unaware of what is transpiring. However, these multiple rounds of talks without clear outcomes are not in the best interest of the movement. The public sentiment is clear—we must fight this battle together,” he asserted.

The talks have witnessed two rounds of deliberations so far—on January 13 and January 18—between a panel of SKM (All-India) leaders, including Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Balbir Singh Rajewal, and Dr. Darshan Pal, and representatives from the SKM Non-Political forum and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, led by Sarwan Singh Pandher, Manjit Rai, Kaka Singh Kotra, and Abhimanyu Kohar. Dallewal said that as yet, tangible progress is not in sight.

As the February 14 deadline for talks approaches, the farmer leader’s call for unity and the growing momentum of the protest are expected to exert additional pressure on the government to address the farmers’ long-standing demands.