Chandigarh: Intensifying protests to press for a legal guarantee for minimum support price or MSP for crops, 111 farmers today (January 15) began a hunger strike for an indefinite period to support farmers’ leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose hunger strike has entered the 51st day.
Their protest began at Punjab-Haryana border in Khanauri, not far from where Haryana state’s border begins.
Haryana’s security forces were on high alert as the protesting farmers came close to the border. However, no confrontation took place and farmers have sat at the protest site peacefully.
Talking to the media, farmers made it clear that they would not march ahead and planned to execute their hunger strike at the site indefinitely until the Union government pays heed to their demand.
They added that they were ready to sacrifice their lives for the cause of farmers’ welfare, like Dallewal, who has so far refused any medical aid despite his health worsening amidst the fast.
Farmers on an indefinite hunger strike on the Khanauri border. Photo: By arrangement.
The 111 farmers, who wore black today, have also announced that they will not to take any medical help during the course of their hunger strike.
The 111 farmers belong to Dallewal’s SKM (non-political) forum, which has been leading the current farmers’ protests for close to a year now. The Sarwan Pandher-led Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) has also been in the forefront of these protests.
SKM (non-political) leader Lakhwinder Aulakh told The Wire that among protesters are farmers from 25 to 85 years of age. “Our leader Dallewal’s health continues to deteriorate, yet the centre is silent and not ready to engage in talks. Now more farmers have decided to put their lives at risk just like Dallewal,” he said.
Another forum leader Kaka Singh told reporters at the protest site that Haryana police officials told them that Section 163 of the BNSS (formerly 144 of the CrPC) had been imposed. “But we told them the farmers were not heading to Delhi and they would only be sitting on hunger strike,” Singh said.
“The administration is free to use force. They can lob tear-gas shells or lathicharge protesting farmers. But they will hold their protest peacefully in support of Dallewal,” he added.
Farmers on an indefinite hunger strike on the Khanauri border. Photo: By arrangement.
Early in the day, farmers cleaned the area and sat in ardas (prayer) before starting their protest. Aulakh said that all those participating today were also given a last minute opportunity to opt out before the start of the fast, but all chose to stay.
All eyes on January 18 joint forum meeting
Meanwhile, all eyes are on round two of the key meeting between various factions of the SKM on January 18 over the launch of a joint fight for farmers’ demands.
The first round of meetings on January 13 remained inconclusive but all forums were keen on forming a joint body to take on the Union government, on lines similar to the historic farmers’ protest in 2020-21.
SKM leaders, who successfully led the 2020 agitation against the now-repealed three farm laws, are not part of the current stir that has been going on at the Khanauri and Shambhu borders since February 13 last year.
Friction between various farm groups had led to a split in 2022. Dallewal formed his own front, the non-political SKM, and launched the current stir. But Dallewal’s protest had failed to move Punjab the way the 2020-2021 stir did.
Now, his deteriorating health and the Union government’s indifference has turned into a trigger for various forums to come together and plan a united fight.
