Dallewal’s fast enters day 30, urges unity among farmers amid ongoing protests

Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a fast unto death for 30 days, appeared on stage after a four-day absence on Wednesday, urging unity among farmers amid ongoing protests.

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However, tensions between farmer unions remain high, as representatives from Dallewal’s faction, the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) (Non-Political), abstained from talks held in Patiala on December 21 with six representatives of other major farmer unions under the SKM-All India (Bharat) umbrella.

The Patiala talks involved key farmer unions, including Bharati Kisan Union (BKU) Ekta Ugrahan, Rajewal, Kadian and Lakhowal, and factions of other farming unions, including farmer leader Rakesh Tikait group, aiming to find common ground in their demands against the Centre.

Yet, the absence of Dallewal’s group highlighted the deepening divisions within the farmer movement.

While Dallewal continues his protest at the Khanauri Border, the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), led by Sarwan Singh Pandher, is staging a parallel demonstration at the Shambhu border.

It was Pandher who has invited all the groups so that the Kisan Andolan 2.0 take a unified struggle like Kisan Andolan 2020.

Leaders of SKM-Bharat have expressed concerns about Dallewal’s inaccessibility, with Binder Singh Golewal of the Malwa Kisan Union revealing that attempts to engage with him have been rebuffed. He had recently visited Khanauri and stayed there for nearly three hours, but he was not made to talk with Dallewal.

Sources within SKM-Bharat speculate that Dallewal’s supporters may be attempting to consolidate their base, while keeping rival leaders at bay to avoid any perceived ‘hijacking’ of their protest.

The ongoing Kisan Andolan 2.0 has already claimed 34 lives since February 13, with a 22-year-old farmer Shubhkaran Singh being shot dead during a February protest. Over 500 farmers were injured or wounded in clashes with security forces. Recent attempts by 101 farmers under the Marjeeva Jatha to march to Delhi on December 6, 8, and 14 were blocked by police, leaving over 50 injured.

Joginder Singh Ugrahan, leader of the BKU Ekta Ugrahan, had earlier criticised Dallewal and Pandher for pursuing poorly planned, solo protests, describing their strategies as “unwarranted”.

Tensions within the farmer movement have simmered since March, when talks involving factions led by Dallewal and Pandher collapsed without input from other senior leaders, like Balbir Singh Rajewal and Harinder Lakhowal.

Adding to the discord, Kaka Singh Kotla of the Dallewal faction stirred controversy by accusing union leaders of waiting for Dallewal’s death rather than supporting him.

“He is not sitting on fasting unto death for 30 days to gain prominence or to message the ego of farmer leaders, rather he is willing to sacrifice his life for the welfare of the entire farming community. The leader should realise that they are leaders till the existence of the farmer sector. When there will be no farming and the sector will go into the hands of corporations, their leadership will automatically end,” said a leader from Dallewal faction requesting anonymity.

Farmers’ demands

The farmer unions’ demands include:

Legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price based on the Swaminathan Commission’s C2+50 per cent formula.

Implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations for assured markets.

Farmers’ pension and debt waiver.

Justice for Lakhimpur Kheri victims and withdrawal of police cases against protesting farmers.

Compensation for families of farmers who died during earlier agitations and other such demands.