New Delhi: Senior Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for reaching out to Akal Takh to intervene to end his fast-unto-death. Dallewal, who entered the 46th day of a life-threatening hunger strike, has rejected a BJP appeal for Akal Takht intervention, instead asking the saffron party to directly lobby Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet farmers’ demands.
In his three-minute video message, the 70-year-old leader, visibly weakened but unwavering, reiterated his commitment to continuing the fast until the central government guarantees Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for crops through legislation.
“We have got information that the leaders of the Punjab unit of BJP appealed to the Akal Takht to intervene in order to end Dallewal’s fast-unto-death. (They appealed to the Akal Takht that) a direction be given so that he should end his fast. I respect the Akal Takht. But the Punjab BJP should approach (PM) Modi ji, the vice president (Jagdeep Dhankhar), Agriculture Minister (Shivraj Singh Chouhan), (Home Minister) Amit Shah ji,” Dallewal said in his video message.
“Instead of meeting them, they are approaching the Akal Takht Jathedar,” he said.
The controversy erupted after a BJP delegation, comprising Sukhminder Pal Singh Grewal and Sarchand Singh, approached Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, urging him to intervene and persuade Dallewal to end his hunger strike.
Dallewal, however, responded sharply in his video message, acknowledging his respect for the Akal Takht but criticizing the BJP’s approach. He accused the party of shirking its responsibility by seeking religious intervention instead of directly engaging with the central government. He stated that he respects the Akal Takht but urged the Punjab BJP to directly appeal to Prime Minister Modi, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Home Minister Amit Shah.
