Kisan neta Dallewal ends hunger strike after 131 days

BATHINDA: Farmer neta Jagjit Singh Dallewal Sunday broke his 131-day fast heeding an appeal the previous day from Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and agreed to next round of meetings with Centre on May 4.

Calling off his stir at a kisan mahapanchayat (farmers' meeting), the 70-year-old vowed to resume the "morcha (fight)" for farmers' rights at the right time. Ravneet Singh Bittu, junior Union minister and BJP Punjab MP, had also urged Dallewal to end his fast that started on Nov 26, 2024.

"I wanted to continue the fast until all 12 demands were met, but more and more demands were pouring in to visit various states to mobilise farmers for a national-level struggle for bigger farm issues... I decided to accept those appeals," Dallewal said. The key farmers' demand related to legal guarantee for MSP "will be achieved through a long struggle, and not in a day," he added.