Jagjit Singh Dallewal begins fast unto death

Who: Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a Punjab farmer leader, with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, led by Sarwan Singh Pandher. Facing them were the Union government and the Punjab government.

What: Farmers had camped at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points since 13 February 2024, when security forces stopped their march to Delhi. By late November, ThePrint reported, farmers said there had been no talks with the Centre since 18 February. Dallewal began a fast unto death on 26 November 2024. Hours before it was due to start, fellow leaders say, police removed him from Khanauri to a hospital in Ludhiana. He was discharged on 29 November and returned to the border, where the fast went on, taking the place of one begun that day by Sukhjit Singh Hardojhande, which ended after a meeting of farmer leaders.

The demands included a legal guarantee for the minimum support price, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, a farm debt waiver, restoration of the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 and compensation for families of farmers who died in the 2020-21 agitation. Down To Earth adds the withdrawal of cases from that agitation and justice for Lakhimpur Kheri victims. Marches towards Delhi on 6, 8 and 14 December were stopped by Haryana police and central forces with tear gas. By 17 January the fast was in its 52nd day, and 111 farmers had begun a fast unto death in support.

On 19 March 2025, after a meeting in Chandigarh with Union ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Piyush Goyal and Pralhad Joshi and Punjab ministers, Dallewal and Pandher were detained by Mohali police on their way back. Police then cleared the Shambhu and Khanauri sites and dismantled the tents. Chouhan called the meeting cordial and said the next round would be on 4 May. Punjab minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the borders, blocked for over a year, had to be reopened. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the SGPC, the Congress and the Akali Dal condemned the action.

Where: The Khanauri border point between Punjab and Haryana.

Why it mattered: The fast kept the demand for a legal MSP guarantee, along with the withdrawal of 2020-21 cases and justice for Lakhimpur Kheri, before the Centre for more than four months. Dallewal ended it on 6 April 2025, after the Union government agreed to talks, Down To Earth reported. He said he would keep fighting for the MSP guarantee and promised a nationwide movement. It ended with a promise of talks, not a guarantee, and the headline of Down To Earth's report notes that the MSP demand continues.