Jagjit Singh Dallewal Photo Credit: BBC
Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political), has reaffirmed his unwavering stance: there will be no talks with Centre if Punjab is involved. On Wednesday, he insisted that discussions on a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) should proceed only with the central government and without representation from Punjab’s elected officials.
Speaking to reporters after breaking his fast, Dallewal emphasized that the inclusion of Punjab authorities would render talks meaningless. According to the Indian Express, he reaffirmed that the morcha had previously refused to attend a May 4 meeting due to the involvement of Punjab ministers and officials. “This is a fight that the Centre must take forward,” he said, adding that state involvement had already disrupted earlier negotiations and harmed farmers’ interests.
Dallewal resumed his hunger strike as a protest against stalling negotiations with the Centre and punitive actions by the Punjab government—including damage to tractors, trolleys, and other farming equipment during a police crackdown. He described the situation as “unacceptable” and demanded that all future discussions include only union representatives.
The morcha plans to launch a Kisan Mahapanchayat in Coimbatore on July 5, followed by a national meeting in Bengaluru on July 6, to strategize next steps in the campaign for MSP guarantee law. As Dallewal made clear, there will be no talks with Centre if Punjab is involved, making state inclusion a non-negotiable bar to dialogue.
The Centre, led by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has maintained that MSP is a national policy matter and that including state representatives would complicate and duplicate proceedings. Chouhan has called on the morcha to reconsider and resume talks unconditionally under the federal framework.
This standoff highlights deeper tensions between the Centre and Punjab over agricultural autonomy. Punjab’s demand for exclusive inclusion reflects its significant role as a procurement hub, especially for wheat and paddy, where state-run agencies support farmers during procurement seasons.
Punjab’s agriculture minister recently labeled the Centre’s exclusion of the state from talks as “unprecedented,” warning that sidelining Punjab could threaten the stability of procurement systems and national food security. The Centre, however, has stood firm on its jurisdictional authority.
Dallewal’s firm position has found backing beyond Punjab. Farmer groups in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh have voiced solidarity, calling for their respective state governments to be included in MSP discussions. They argue a central-only dialogue risks neglecting diverse procurement systems and agricultural realities across India’s geography.
Mr. Dallewal’s prolonged fast—his second this year, following an earlier fast that ended in April—continues to draw attention from both national media and the Supreme Court. In March, the Court intervened to assess his health and urged the Punjab government to provide medical care. The Punjab government responded that he would consider hospital treatment only if the Centre agreed to direct talks
Former Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala has echoed Dallewal’s demand, calling on the Centre to modify its approach and involve Punjab officials. Meanwhile, Punjab BJP leaders have accused the state government of obstructionism, urging cooperation with protesting farmers.
Public sentiment remains deeply divided. Rural communities in Punjab view Dallewal’s position as a defense of farmers’ rights, while many urban voices see his intransigence as prolonging a national impasse over MSP and agricultural reform. Over the coming weeks, domestic and international observers will weigh whether this will lead to a genuine breakthrough or further entrenchment.
As general elections draw near and agriculture becomes a ballot issue, the stakes are rising. The message is clear: “no talks with Centre if Punjab is involved” is not just a slogan—it’s now a test of policy and political will in India’s complex federal structure.
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