Saturday, March 29, 2025
Before Shambhu Protest: “I Can’t Even Walk, Yet the Government is Scared”
Patiala | Updated 2 minutes ago
In a significant development ahead of the scheduled protest at Shambhu police station, prominent farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal was placed under house arrest early Monday morning. At around 4 a.m., Punjab Police officers arrived at his residence in Faridkot. Dallewal later went live on social media to inform the public about his detention.
Addressing supporters via a live stream, Dallewal said, “Everyone knows I can barely walk. Still, the government is so scared that they’ve put me under house arrest. Such orders are being given by the authorities.”
The action comes just days before a planned protest organized by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political). The two farmer groups announced a demonstration outside Shambhu police station on May 6 against what they call the “unjust suppression of the farmers’ movement” and the wrongful detention of farmer leaders.
Dallewal revealed that in several locations in Patiala, locals recovered and returned trolleys and other belongings from police officials stationed near the Khanauri border. “We had demanded legal action against the officials responsible for forcibly taking farmer property. While a few FIRs were initially registered, now those who returned the farmers’ goods are being booked instead of the actual culprits,” he said.
Dallewal claimed that Punjab’s DGP had earlier assured that damages to farmers and their belongings during the protests would be compensated. “But it seems the government is now backing away from that promise. On May 6, we will gherao Shambhu police station and also demand disciplinary action against the SHO for misconduct during the protest period,” he added.
“The government is so terrified it won’t even allow people to gather peacefully. They’re putting individuals behind bars just to suppress calls for justice. This is nothing short of tyranny. The public must rise against it, or justice will remain out of reach in the future,” Dallewal warned.
Dallewal said the government should have simply called to understand the reasons for the protest. “Our demands are clear. Why are we being denied our democratic right to protest? We are asking for accountability against officials who mistreated farmers, and for the DGP to fulfill the promise of compensation,” he said.
February 13, 2024: Farmers launched a protest at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders demanding MSP guarantees and other key reforms.
November 26, 2024: Dallewal began a hunger strike at the Khanauri border.
March 19, 2025: On their way back from a meeting with central leaders in Chandigarh, several farmer leaders, including Dallewal, were detained by Punjab Police. Protesters were forcibly removed from the borders, and traffic was restored.
April 3, 2025: Dallewal was discharged from the hospital.
April 6, 2025: In a panchayat held in Fatehgarh Sahib, Dallewal announced the end of his hunger strike but confirmed that protests against the government would continue.
May 4, 2025: Farmer leaders met in Chandigarh and reaffirmed the May 6 gherao of the Shambhu police station.
As tension builds, the next 48 hours will be critical for both the farmer movement and the Punjab government’s handling of the situation.
