Farmers’ protest nears One-Year Mark, Maha Panchayats announced to intensify agitation
Major rallies planned on Feb 11-12-13 to escalate pressure on Govt.
Ferozepur/Shambhu, February 3, 2025: The farmers' protest at the Shambhu border is nearing its one-year mark, with just nine days left for the anniversary. Led by farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher, the agitation against the central government's policies has been gaining momentum. Farmers have now announced a Maha Panchayat and invited all supporters to participate.
In a video message, the farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said the protest, which began on February 13 last year, continues unabated, with demonstrators voicing concerns over the government's new mandi policy. Farmers fear that the draft policy may be pushed through during the ongoing Parliament session, where a debate on the President's address is underway. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to speak today, and protest leaders hope he will acknowledge the sacrifices of those who died in the Mahakumbh and pay tribute to the farmers who lost their lives during the agitation.
Meanwhile, Kisan leader Abhimanyu Kohar has taken a new bet in support of Jagjit Singh Dallewal's hunger strike and to strengthen the Kisan movement. He has initiated the Pavitra Jal Yatra initiative. Abhimanyu Kohad has requested the farmer brothers and sisters to take water from their fields and reach the Khanuri front on one day from February 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12. He has appealed to strengthen the movement by offering water. Kohad said that Dallewal ji has been taking only water for the last 70 days. This movement is a fight for our rights and respect.
Kisan Andolan 2.0 under the leadership of the Joint Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) is going to complete one year on 12 February 2025. Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Sarwan Singh Pandher, Abhimanyu Kohad, Kaka Singh Kotra and many famous farmers leaders are the face of this movement.
Seeing the movement calm down, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal sat on a fast to death from 26 November 2024. After more than 50 days of Dallewal's hunger strike, the central government had to give in on January 18 and invited both fronts for talks, under which 12 demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP, were negotiated between the farmers and the centre on February 14 in Chandigarh. There will be a discussion.
Before the talks with the central government, farmers' unions have called three separate farmers' rallies on February 11 in Rajasthan, on February 12 at the Khanuri front and on February 13 at the Shambhu border, in which lakhs of farmers are expected to gather.
Kisan unions are preparing to pressurize the government for their demands. For this, the farmer leaders have asked a large number of farmers to join the Mahapanchayats, so that the government will consider their point.
Dallewal will address the farmers by joining virtually in the Mahapanchayat to be held in Rajasthan on February 11. At the same time, the Maha Panchayat will be held on the Khanuri front in his presence on February 12. During this time, he will take the opinion of the farmers on the meeting to be held from the centre on February 14 whether they should go to Chandigarh to attend it or not. Earlier, the farmer leader refused to attend the meeting citing health reasons. However, the possibility of joining online has been raised. But only after the Mahapanchayat, the suspense will be completely lifted. Dallewal has said that until the demands of the farmers are met, they will continue the hunger strike.
As the protest intensifies, pressure is mounting on the government, which has now invited farmer leaders for talks on February 14. While discussions are being initiated, farmers remain firm that their protest will not end until their demands are met.