Supreme Court Commends Jagjit Singh Dallewal as a ‘Genuine Farmer Leader’ Amid Ongoing Protests

The Supreme Court on Friday lauded farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal as a “genuine farmer leader without any political agenda” as the Punjab government reported that he had ended his months-long hunger strike, which had been focused on multiple demands.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh dropped contempt proceedings against Punjab’s Chief Secretary and Director General of Police for failing to comply with an earlier court order to provide medical assistance to Dallewal.

Court Acknowledges the Situation

During the hearing, the Punjab government informed the court that the farmers protesting at Khanauri and Shambhu borders had been dispersed, and all affected roads and highways had been reopened for traffic. The bench further instructed the Punjab and Haryana governments to file a status report on the ground situation, adding, "We know some people did not want the grievances of farmers to be settled. We are not sitting in an ivory tower. We know everything."

Farmers, under the banners of Samyukt Kisan Morcha and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, had been protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points since February 13 of the previous year, after security forces blocked their march to Delhi.

On March 19, several farmer leaders, including Sarwan Singh Pandher and Dallewal, were detained in Mohali while returning from a meeting with a central delegation. Following this, Punjab Police carried out the court’s order to remove the farmers from the Shambhu and Khanauri protest sites.

Farmer Leaders Continue Their Struggle

Sarwan Singh Pandher, a leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Sanghrash Committee-Punjab, who was released from Muktsar Sahib jail on Friday, criticized the AAP-led Punjab government and demanded compensation for damages incurred during the protests.

“I have been released from Muktsar Sahib Jail today. The AAP and Bhagwant Mann had claimed the farmers’ protest was directed against the Union government. But today, the question arises: Why did the Punjab government feel compelled to take action against the farmers? The government should compensate us for the damages to our tents, tractors, and other equipment. Our movement will continue,” Pandher stated.

Another farmer leader, Harinder Singh Lakhowal, expressed their refusal to attend a meeting called by Punjab’s Agriculture Minister, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, on Friday. "We will hold a protest on March 28 at district headquarters," Lakhowal announced, signaling the ongoing resistance to the government’s actions.

Despite the dispersal of protests, it is clear that the farmers’ demands and their movement continue, with leaders emphasizing that their struggle for rights and compensation remains unresolved.