All eyes are on the massive Mahapanchayat scheduled for January 4 at the Khanauri protest site in Punjab, where over two lakh farmers are expected to congregate in a powerful display of unity and defiance. The gathering comes amid a prolonged standoff between the farmers and the government, with farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s hunger strike entering its 38th day. This pivotal meeting is anticipated to set the course for the farmers’ future strategy, as they remain steadfast in their demands for a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP) and other key issues.
The Mahapanchayat is not just a gathering but a call to arms for India’s agrarian community. Farmer leaders from across states are expected to join forces, amplifying their collective voice against what they see as the government’s apathy towards their plight. The event will also be a platform for Dallewal to address the nation.
Dallewal’s fast unto death has not only captured national attention but also drawn the Supreme Court into the fray. The apex court’s interventions have so far failed to resolve the impasse, as Dallewal remains adamant about not receiving medical treatment, despite his deteriorating health. The Punjab government, under intense scrutiny, has set up a makeshift hospital near the protest site and deployed a team of 50 doctors to monitor his condition. Yet, the hunger-striking leader’s unyielding stance underscores the gravity of the farmers’ demands and their frustration with the government’s lack of response.
The January 4 Mahapanchayat at Khanauri border is poised to be a historic gathering, uniting farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and other states in solidarity. The event aims to amplify the farmers’ demands, include a legal guarantee for MSP, debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, opposition to the proposed Agricultural Marketing Policy draft, and assurances against the reintroduction of the repealed farm laws.
Farmer leaders have emphasized that the Mahapanchayat will be a peaceful yet powerful show of strength, with Dallewal expected to deliver a crucial message about the movement’s future.
Preparations for the Mahapanchayat are in full swing, with farmer unions mobilizing support from villages and towns. The event is seen as a critical juncture in the ongoing protest, which has drawn comparisons to the 2020-21 farmers’ movement that forced the repeal of controversial farm laws. The mega event is scheduled about four days after the Punjab bandh, on the call given by farmers, put the state to a grinding halt.
Besides the Mahapanchayat, the farmers plan to mark Sikh master Guru Gobind Singh’s prakash parv (birth anniversary) on January 6 at the Shambhu border.
The Supreme Court, during a hearing on Thursday, took a stern view of the Punjab Government’s inability to persuade Dallewal to accept medical aid. The Court expressed concerns about the situation deteriorating deliberately and criticized irresponsible statements by some farmer leaders. While acknowledging the complexity of the issue, the Court refrained from issuing direct orders to end the hunger strike, instead seeking a compliance report on Dallewal’s health.
Punjab’s Advocate General informed the court that Dallewal might consider medical intervention if the Central Government initiates talks. However, farmer leaders clarified that no decision had been made, as Dallewal’s fast is symbolic of the farmers’ disillusionment with the government’s indifference.
Farmer leader and Dallewal’s close aide Abhimanyu Kohar reiterated the movement’s respect for constitutional institutions but criticized the Government’s perceived apathy. Kohar accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of prioritizing meetings with celebrities over addressing the concerns of India’s farmers.
“The Prime Minister has time to meet artists but not a farmer leader who has been fasting for 38 days. This shows the government’s lack of regard for the very people who ensure the nation’s food security,” Kohar said.
The farmers alleged that the government is trying to revive the repealed farm laws through the backdoor by introducing the draft Agricultural Marketing Policy. They also accused the Centre of failing to engage with stakeholders meaningfully, despite the Supreme Court’s reminders about the importance of dialogue.
