In a significant development, 121 farmers ended their hunger strike on Sunday after the Indian government agreed to meet with farmer unions on February 14 in Chandigarh to discuss their demands. The protests, centered around the demand for legally guaranteed Minimum Support Prices (MSPs), have been ongoing for months, with farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal becoming the focal point of the movement.

Dallewal, a 70-year-old leader of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), has been on a hunger strike since November 26 at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border. Despite his deteriorating health due to the prolonged fast, he has remained resolute in his demands, allowing only an intravenous drip to be administered late Saturday night as his condition turned critical. Dallewal, who is also a cancer patient, has insisted on continuing his fast until the government guarantees MSPs and addresses other concerns raised by the protesting farmers.

The hunger strike began after authorities prevented farmers from marching to Delhi to press their demands. In solidarity with Dallewal, 121 farmers 111 from Punjaband 10 from Haryana joined the hunger strike at Khanauri and Shambhu, two key protest sites on the Punjab-Haryana border. Their collective action drew widespread attention and support, amplifying the call for a fair and legal framework to ensure MSPs for farmers.

The decision to end the solidarity hunger strike came after the government extended an invitation to meet with farmers’ forums. This breakthrough, however, has not swayed Dallewal, who continues his indefinite hunger strike, now in its 55th day.

The February 14 meeting will mark a crucial juncture in the ongoing farmer protests. While the governments agreement to engage in dialogue has been welcomed as a positive step, the farmers remain cautious and firm in their resolve. The demand for MSP guarantees, seen as vital for ensuring fair prices for crops and protecting farmers from exploitation, remains at the forefront of the agenda.

Supporters of the movement, including members of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and other allied groups, continue to camp at protest sites, maintaining pressure on the government.