Chandigarh, March 28 — Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal ended his 123-day hunger strike on Friday after accepting water, Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh informed the Supreme Court. The development came hours after the release of 245 farmers, including leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher, Kaka Singh Kotda, and Abhimanyu Kohar, from Patiala jail.
The court, which was hearing a petition on the farmers’ protests, welcomed Dallewal’s decision, with Justice Surya Kant commending his genuine leadership and lack of political agenda.
The Bench also praised the reopening of the Shambhu and Khanauri border highways, saying it would benefit lakhs of commuters.
The SC dropped contempt proceedings against Punjab’s Chief Secretary and DGP over the alleged disobedience of a July 2024 order to maintain the status quo at the Shambhu border, citing recent developments.
Dallewal, who began his fast on November 26, 2024, was demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, a farm debt waiver, pension for farmers and labourers, and compensation for families of farmers who died during the 2020-21 agitation.
