Jagjit Singh Dhalewal
Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on hunger strike since November 26. Amid the farmers’ movement, farmers are fasting at the Kanauli border between Punjab and Haryana to meet their demands. He suffered from serious illnesses such as cancer. Recently, on the instructions of the country’s Supreme Court, Punjab Deputy Attorney General Gaurav Yadav and Union Home Ministry Director Mayank Mishra met him. During this meeting, he listened to all the farmer leaders’ speeches and admired his style of peaceful protest. Let us understand some important information provided by Jagjit Singh, who at the age of 70 has supported farmers at every step of their struggle.
Anna’s followers
Jagjit Singh Dallewal is a resident of Faridkot, Punjab. He has been fasting for the past 20 days to meet farmers’ rights demands. He is also considered to be a follower of Anna Hazare as he participated in her fast protest in Delhi in 2018.
He is the convener of the United Kisan Morcha (apolitical). In the current farmers’ movement, he is leading the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march. He made this request on January 2, 2024. This time the farmers’ movement, they protested peacefully at the Kanauli border in Sangrur.
What are your views on the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission report?
He has long been outspoken on farmers’ issues. In this case, he came into the spotlight for the first time in 2018. He was very active in solving the problems of farmers in Malwa district of Punjab. He was deeply saddened by the farmer’s suicide. They also held demonstrations against land acquisition and encroachment on their land.
In 2018, he hopes to implement the recommendations in the Swaminathan Committee report to ensure fair prices for agricultural products and agricultural loan exemptions. With this request, they headed towards Delhi with a convoy of tractors.
According to a report in The Indian Express, the union members were killed by the then Congress government of Punjab in Chima Mandi in Sangrur. The entire convoy camped at Chimamandi for nearly a month in protest. People from nearby villages came to serve him, provide other assistance, and participate in Chimamandi’s protests. Farmers’ fleets were small at that time.
In order to boost the morale of farmers, he used fasting as a weapon and went on a hunger strike for five days in Chandigarh in 2019 to solve farming and related issues. He should also be part of a broader, larger agricultural movement in 2021. He went on a long hunger strike at the Delhi borders to protest against the farm laws. In 2022, Jagjit Singh Dhalewal decided to go on hunger strike again after the Punjab government filed charges against farmers’ organizations.
Owns approximately 17 acres of land
Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal owns about Rs 17 crore. His wife passed away on January 27, 2024. His son Gurpinderpal Dallewal told the media that he has donated 4.5 acres of land in the name of his son Gurpinderpal. Apart from this, he also handed over two acres of land in the name of his daughter-in-law Harpreet Kaur. He has given the remaining 10.5 acres of cultivable land to his grandson Jigarjot Singh.
What organizations are you associated with?
Jagjit Singh Dallewal leads Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur). He has joined hands with the SKM faction and many agricultural groups in Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. SKM (non-political) was also formed. Dhalewal is also the president of the Sidhupur-based Indian Kisan League (Sidhupur) in Faridkot, Punjab. It works in 19 districts of the state. A few months ago, KMM started cooperating with SKM (non-political).
letter to prime minister
He also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Modi during the Kisan 2.0 movement. Discussing the farmers’ issue, he wrote that the minimum price and support price of MSP are linked to each farmer. Ensuring this is like their basic right to exist. He wrote: “I decided to sacrifice my life to prevent the deaths of farmers.
I hope that after my death, the central government will wake up from its slumber and move towards realizing our 13 demands including the MSP law. “If he dies, full responsibility will fall on the central government,” he wrote.
Likelihood of silent heart attack
Jagjit Singh Dallewal was suffering from a serious illness including cancer. According to doctors, his most recent urine test showed high levels of ketones. Therefore, the body begins to break down fat for energy instead of glucose. Now, the effects of his fast are affecting multiple parts of his body, including his heart. According to doctors, he was likely suffering from a silent heart attack.
