A fresh storm, it seems, is brewing in Punjab’s agrarian belt as farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for over 118 days now, was quietly shifted from Jalandhar Cantonment’s PWD rest house to a private hospital in Patiala on Sunday under heavy police security. The sudden and secretive relocation has sparked outrage among farmer unions, further escalating tensions in an already volatile situation.
Amid the growing discontent, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has announced a nationwide protest on March 28 against what it calls the “state-sponsored repression” of Punjab’s farmers. The SKM has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab Government of colluding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central Government to crush the ongoing farmers’ agitation.
Meanwhile, farmers in Bathinda have declared a full-scale protest, demanding the release of detained leaders and the return of confiscated equipment and vehicles during March 19 police action, as they gear up for what they call a fight for survival.
Dallewal’s Shifting to Patiala
The decision to move Dallewal from Jalandhar to Patiala has raised eyebrows, particularly because the government has offered no official explanation. After his surprise detention from Mohali on March 19, Dallewal was initially taken to PIMS Hospital in Jalandhar but later shifted to a high-security PWD rest house in Jalandhar Cantonment. The location, heavily guarded by police and army personnel, was strategically chosen to keep Dallewal isolated from fellow protestors.
However, on Sunday morning, he was suddenly transported to a private hospital in Patiala. Sources claimed that the decision was made late on Saturday evening, and the shifting was carried out in secrecy. Notably, the hospital is managed by a retired Punjab Police officer, leading to further speculation about the government’s intentions.
The move has taken even SKM leaders by surprise. “This sudden transfer raises serious questions. Why was he moved without informing his family or fellow union members? Is his health worsening, or is this an attempt to silence the movement?” questioned a senior farm leader.
SKM’s Nationwide Call for Protest on Mar 28
With tensions escalating, the SKM has called for a massive nationwide protest on March 28 to condemn the police crackdown on Punjab’s farmers. The pan-India farmer body has accused the AAP Government of acting as a pawn in the hands of corporate interests, alleging that the state has become complicit in suppressing the movement that began over the long-pending demand for a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP).
The arrests of over 350 farmer leaders, including Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher, have further fueled anger. Protest sites at Khanauri and Shambhu borders were forcefully cleared by police, who used bulldozers to dismantle tents and seized tractors and trolleys belonging to the farmers. Earlier, on March 3 and 4, over 800 activists, including veteran leaders like Balbir Singh Rajewal and Ruldu Singh Mansa, were detained to prevent a weeklong dharna in Chandigarh.
In a strongly-worded statement, SKM warned that Punjab was being turned into a “police state”. “The Mann government is playing into the hands of corporate giants, trampling on farmers’ rights to protest. But history has shown that repression will only strengthen our resolve,” the statement read.
The SKM also urged various farmer factions, including the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and SKM (Non-Political), to unite against the government’s oppressive tactics. “This is not just a fight for Punjab’s farmers but for every farmer in the country. Without the right to protest, we cannot win the battle for fair prices, loan waivers, or justice,” an SKM leader asserted.
Unresolved Demands and Govt’s Silence
At the heart of the agitation is the demand for a legally guaranteed MSP at the C2+50 percent formula — a promise made by the Modi Government in 2021 but never fulfilled. Additionally, farmers are demanding comprehensive debt waivers, citing a severe agrarian crisis that has led to an alarming number of suicides — an estimated 31 farmers take their own lives daily due to mounting debt.
Despite multiple rounds of talks, including those held in Chandigarh on February 14 and 22, and then on March 19, no concrete resolution has been reached. The farmers have refused to end their movement until the government agrees to their core demands. “The Modi Government has waived Rs 16 lakh crore worth of corporate loans in the past 10 years but refuses to waive even a single rupee of farmers’ debt. This exposes their priorities,” SKM’s statement read.
The farmers have also blamed the Haryana Government for blocking Punjab’s borders at Khanauri and Shambhu, arguing that it was not the protesters but the authorities who disrupted normal life by barricading the roads.
Farmers Gear Up for ‘Black Day’ Protest
In response to the ongoing crackdown, farmers have intensified their agitation and announced that March 28 will be observed as a “Black Day” across the country. On March 24, district-level meetings will be held to coordinate the protest, which is expected to see large-scale participation.
At a gathering at Dana Mandi in Bathinda, the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) paid tribute to Shaheed Bhagat Singh on his martyrdom day, drawing parallels between the revolutionary’s struggle against British rule and the farmers’ present-day fight against corporate domination.
“The British looted India, and today, corporate giants are looting our land, our produce, and our livelihoods,” declared Shingara Singh Mann, district president of BKU Ekta Ugrahan. “We will not rest until our demands are met. The Government must release our leaders and return our confiscated belongings immediately,” he said.
Farmers have issued a direct ultimatum to the Punjab Government — either release all detained protesters and return their seized assets or prepare for an indefinite state-wide protest. “This is no longer just about laws and policies; it is about our very survival,” declared a protest leader.
