Breaking the Stalemate: Farmers’ Hunger Strike Forces Government to the Negotiating Table on Feb 14
Breaking the Stalemate: Farmers’ Hunger Strike Forces Government to the Negotiating Table on Feb 14
Ferozepur (Khanauri), January 19, 2025: The central government has scheduled a meeting with protesting farmers on February 14, 2025, at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Chandigarh. The decision comes after farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s 54-day hunger strike, which intensified public pressure on the government.
Farmers have been protesting for 340 days at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, demanding a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) and addressing 12 other key issues. While Dallewal has agreed to medical treatment, he has not yet ended his hunger strike. Doctors have expressed concerns about his ability to survive until the scheduled meeting.
The government had previously held four inconclusive discussions with farmers but resumed dialogue amid fears of unrest in Punjab and Haryana. Dallewal’s hunger strike has also inspired 121 other farmers, including 111 from Punjab and 10 from Haryana, to join in solidarity. These farmers have vowed to continue their fast until Dallewal ends his.
The Ministry of Agriculture attributed the meeting’s delay to the Delhi election code of conduct and upcoming Union Budget announcements. However, the move has drawn criticism for reflecting a lack of urgency in addressing the farmers’ concerns.
This protest, focused on Punjab and Haryana, has brought leaders like Dallewal, Sarwan Singh Pandher, and Abhimanyu Kohar to prominence. The February 14 meeting is expected to play a pivotal role in resolving the farmers’ demands and the ongoing agitation.
