Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a prolonged hunger strike, was discharged from Park Hospital in Patiala on Thursday. After spending over four months away, he will return to his hometown, Dallewal village in Faridkot, where he is set to address a district-level Kisan Mahapanchayat.
Kaka Singh Kotda, general secretary of BKU Sidhupur, confirmed Dallewal’s discharge and reiterated that he remains committed to his hunger strike, consuming only water with minimal medical assistance.
Speaking to the media after leaving the hospital, Dallewal reaffirmed that he would not end his fast until farmers' key demands, particularly a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), are met. He also announced plans to hold farmer gatherings in April and May to unify the farming community, while not ruling out the possibility of another large-scale protest.
Dallewal had been detained by Punjab Police and moved between hospitals in Jalandhar before being transferred to Park Hospital in Patiala on March 24.
His health and continued fasting have become points of contention between the state government and farmer unions. The Punjab government informed the Supreme Court that Dallewal had ended his 123-day hunger strike on March 29. However, the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM Non-Political) strongly denied this claim, asserting that he remains on his fast.
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According to SKM leaders, Dallewal had abstained from water since March 19 in protest against the arrests of fellow farmer leaders and the police crackdown at the Shambhu and Khanauri protest sites.
Farmer leader Sukhjit Singh Hardo Jhande accused the government of misleading both the public and the judiciary with false claims about Dallewal’s health and fasting status. He stated that they would present the facts before the court.
He further clarified that after the arrests and forced eviction of farmers from the Shambhu and Khanauri borders on March 19, Dallewal refused water and medical assistance. It was only after all detained farmers were released that he resumed drinking water and agreed to medical aid on March 28.
Hardo Jhande also outlined the timeline of Dallewal’s hunger strike, noting that it began on November 26 with only water intake. On January 18, following repeated requests and an offer from the central government for talks, he agreed to receive medical care.
His nine-day water abstinence came to an end after former DIG Narinder Bhargav and ADGP Jaskaran Singh, who were appointed as government interlocutors, provided him with water. Despite these developments, Dallewal remains steadfast in his protest, continuing to push for the farmers' demands.
Also Read: Dallewal has not ended indefinite fast, says farm leader
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