Farmers Call for Urgent Meeting in Delhi, Postpone Jan 22’s March

| | Chandigarh
  • 0

Farmers Call for Urgent Meeting in Delhi, Postpone Jan 22’s March

Tuesday, 21 January 2025 | PNS | Chandigarh

Farmers protesting at the Shambhu border on Monday decided to defer their planned march (scheduled for January 22) to Delhi, calling for the Centre to hold an urgent meeting ahead of slated February 14 and shift the venue from Chandigarh to the national capital.
 
Sarwan Singh Pandher, coordinator of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), made an impassioned “request” to the Centre, highlighting the worsening condition of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for 56 days now. “The government must act now. Any further delay could endanger Dallewal’s life,” said Pandher, questioning the government’s rationale for not advancing the talks.
 
“Dallewal’s hunger strike will reach its 87th day by February 14. He is a senior citizen and a cancer survivor — his condition is critical, and waiting this long is a risk we cannot afford. The Government must advance the meeting and hold it in Delhi, where the stakes of this nationwide struggle can be properly acknowledged,” said Pandher.
 
Dismissing the excuse of the Model Code of Conduct as a barrier, he added, “If the Eighth Pay Commission’s announcements can be made despite the code, then why not this meeting? The elections are limited to Delhi; this is a national issue.” 
 
At the same time, Pandher also urged unity among farmer unions and called on the SKM (non-political) and Bharatiya Kisan Union (Sidhupur) leaders to encourage their chief, Dallewal, to end his hunger strike for the sake of his health.
 
Pandher said: “Regarding our plan to send another jatha of 101 farmers towards Shambhu border on January 22, we have postponed it to January 26. We will be doing a tractor rally on January 26 and will take a call later about the jatha…Our struggle, however, will continue till the demands are met.”
 
Notably, KMM and Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) has been spearheading the Delhi Chalo Andolan since February 2024. The ongoing farmers’ movement, rooted in demands such as a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops and the withdrawal of legal notices against previous protesters, continues to adapt its approach.
 
Initially, the pan-India farmers’ body — Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) — had planned a nationwide gherao of MPs’ residences on January 20 (Monday) to press their demands. However, after the Centre proposed a February 14 meeting in Chandigarh, the SKM urged farmers to send their demands via email and letters instead.
 
While the change in tactics reflected an openness to dialogue, Dallewal’s hunger strike has amplified the urgency of the situation. Despite receiving medical assistance, Dallewal has refused to break his fast until the MSP guarantee law is implemented. Doctors monitoring him have expressed grave concerns about his deteriorating health, warning that survival on glucose and basic support alone may not be possible for much longer. 
 
Pandher accused the Central Government of attempting to sow discord among farmer unions, but stressed that their resolve remains strong. He also called on leaders from the SKM (non-political) and Bharatiya Kisan Union (Sidhupur) to convince Dallewal to end his hunger strike for the sake of his health.
 
Reports of internal disagreements surfaced after Dallewal accepted the Centre’s February 14 proposal without consulting all union leaders. However, KMM and SKM (non-political) leaders have reiterated their shared commitment to the movement. 
 
“This is not just a regional issue; it is a national struggle,” said KMM leader Kaka Singh Kotra, who also backed calls for relocating the meeting to Delhi. He added, “The farmers’ demands affect the entire country, and the venue should reflect that importance.”
 
Senior SKM leader Abhimanyu Kohar revealed that union representatives had previously requested the Centre to advance the meeting, but were told that logistical constraints related to Republic Day preparations prevented an earlier date. 
 
Dallewal’s critical condition has added a new dimension of urgency to the farmers’ demands. Currently surviving on medical assistance, his health continues to decline, and his hunger strike has become a symbol of the movement’s determination. Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian has also appealed to the Centre, urging the Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to address the farmers’ demands promptly. 
 
The farmers’ protest, ongoing at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders since February 2024, includes a 12-point charter of demands ranging from MSP guarantees to compensation for losses due to unseasonal rains. Their decision to postpone the march to Delhi is a calculated move to focus on dialogue, but it comes with a warning — their struggle will not end until their demands are met. 
 

Sunday Edition

A Sky Full of Wings

16 February 2025 | SAKSHI PRIYA | Agenda

Pan India Plates

16 February 2025 | Abhi Singhal | Agenda

Indulgent Flavours

16 February 2025 | Team Agenda | Agenda

Young and Rising Stars of Dining

16 February 2025 | Pawan Soni | Agenda

Reconnect with yourself

16 February 2025 | Rohit Kaul | Agenda

Chettinad: Unleashing the Ghosts of Imagination

16 February 2025 | Divya Bhatia | Agenda