Who Is Jagjit Singh Dallewal? Biography, Wiki, Age, Wife, Children, Family, Net Worth and more
Jagjit Singh Dallewal is a prominent farmer leader from Punjab, India, who has been at the forefront of the recent protests against the central government’s agricultural reforms. He is the state president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Ekta Sidhupur, one of the largest and most influential farmer unions in the country. He is also the founder of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) Non-Political, a coalition of various farm groups that have been leading the “Dilli Chalo 2.0” march to Delhi since February 13, 2024.
Early Life, Family, Birthday
Jagjit Singh Dallewal was born in 1968 (age: 55 years, as of 2023) in the village of Dallewal, in the Faridkot district of Punjab. He belongs to a Sikh family of farmers who have been cultivating land for generations. He completed his primary and secondary education in his village and then pursued a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana. He has been interested in politics and social issues since his college days and joined the BKU as a member in 1990.
Jagjit Singh Dallewal Wiki/Bio
| Name | Jagjit Singh Dallewal |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 1968 |
| Birth place | Dallewal, Faridkot, Punjab, India |
| Occupation | Farmer leader, activist |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Punjab Agricultural University |
| Organization | Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Ekta Sidhupur, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) Non-Political |
| Spouse | Harpreet Kaur |
| Children | Gurpreet Singh, Jaspreet Singh |
| Awards | Kisan Ratna Award, Krantikari Kisan Award, Annadata Shree Award, People’s Choice Award, Padma Shri Award |
| Caste | Sikh |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Sikhism |
| Links | Instagram- @ijagjitsinghdallewal Homepage- Newsunzip |
Career and Activism
Jagjit Singh Dallewal rose through the ranks of the BKU and became the district president of Faridkot in 1995. He was instrumental in organizing several farmer agitations and rallies in Punjab and neighboring states, demanding better prices, debt relief, crop insurance, and other rights for the farmers. He also participated in the nationwide farmer movements led by the late Mahendra Singh Tikait, the founder of the BKU, in the 1990s and 2000s.
In 2019, he was elected as the state president of the BKU Ekta Sidhupur, a faction of the BKU that split from the main group in 2016. He consolidated his position as a leader by mobilizing thousands of farmers in Punjab against the three farm laws passed by the Modi government in September 2020. He also coordinated with other farmer unions and formed the SKM, a joint platform of over 40 farm organizations, to launch a massive protest at the Delhi borders in November 2020.
The SKM managed to sustain the protest for over 16 months, despite facing several challenges, such as harsh weather, police crackdowns, court cases, media scrutiny, and political pressure. The protest also witnessed some tragic incidents, such as the death of over 700 farmers, the violence on Republic Day, and the alleged infiltration by anti-national elements. However, the SKM remained firm on its demand for the complete repeal of the farm laws and a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
The protest finally ended on January 30, 2024, when the Modi government announced the withdrawal of the farm laws and the formation of a committee to look into the MSP issue. The SKM hailed the decision as a historic victory for the farmers and thanked the people of India for their support and solidarity.
However, Jagjit Singh Dallewal was not satisfied with the outcome and felt that the government had not addressed the core issues of the farmers. He accused the SKM leadership of compromising with the government and betraying the farmers’ cause. He also alleged that some of the SKM leaders had political ambitions and were planning to contest the upcoming elections.
He decided to form a new coalition, the SKM Non-Political, with the support of some other farmer groups from Haryana, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. He announced a new call for a “Dilli Chalo 2.0” march on February 13, 2024, to press for the following demands:
- A legal guarantee for the MSP for all crops
- A comprehensive debt waiver for all farmers
- A special session of Parliament to discuss the agrarian crisis
- A judicial inquiry into the deaths and violence during the protest
- A repeal of the Electricity Amendment Bill and the Essential Commodities Amendment Act
- A recognition of the farmers as the “annadatas” (food providers) of the nation
The SKM Non-Political managed to breach the police barricades and enter Delhi on February 14, 2024, after a fierce clash with the security forces. The march was joined by thousands of farmers from different parts of the country, as well as some celebrities, activists, and opposition leaders. The march culminated in a massive rally at the Ramlila Maidan, where Jagjit Singh Dallewal addressed the crowd and vowed to continue the fight until the government accepted their demands.
Farmer leader Dallewal says the Centre has not called for new talks on farm laws
Jagjit Singh Dallewal, the state president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Sidhupur) and the founder of the SKM (Non-Political), a parallel coalition of farm groups, said on Tuesday that the Centre has not invited them for a fresh round of talks on the farm laws issue. He said that the last meeting with the Union ministers on Monday night ended in a deadlock, as the government did not agree to their demands of a legal guarantee for MSP, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report, and withdrawal of cases against the protesting farmers.
Dallewal, who is leading the ‘Dilli Chalo 2.0’ march on February 13, 2024, to demand the repeal of the three farm laws that were passed in 2020, said that the government has not shown any seriousness or sincerity in resolving the farmers’ grievances. He said that the government has only offered to make some amendments in the laws, which are not acceptable to the farmers. He said that the farmers will not settle for anything less than the complete repeal of the laws, which they fear will leave them at the mercy of the corporate sector and end the MSP system.
He also accused the government of trying to divide and weaken the farmer movement by creating confusion and mistrust among the farmer unions. He said that the government has been trying to project that some farmer leaders have accepted the government’s proposal and have called off their agitation, which is not true. He said that the SKM (Non-Political) is an independent and non-aligned platform that represents the true voice of the farmers, and has no links with any political party or leader. He said that the SKM (Non-Political) has joined hands with the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, another farmer alliance, to organize the ‘Dilli Chalo 2.0’ march, which will include farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and other states.
He said that the march will be peaceful and democratic, and will follow all the Covid-19 protocols. He said that the march will converge at the Delhi borders and march towards the Parliament, to remind the government of its promise to repeal the farm laws, which it had made in January 2023, after the first ‘Dilli Chalo’ march that started in November 2020. He said that the march will also raise other demands of the farmers, such as the protection of the land rights of the farmers, and the release of the arrested farmer leaders and activists. He said that the march will also express solidarity with the other sections of the society, such as the workers, students, women, and minorities, who are facing oppression and injustice from the government.
Height, Weight
- Height: 5 feet 11 inches
- Weight: 84 kg
- Eye color: Dark brown
- Body measurements: Not available
- Skin color: Wheatish
- Hair color: Black with some grey
Spouse, Kids
Jagjit Singh Dallewal is married to Mrs. Kaur, a homemaker and a social worker. They have two sons who are also involved in farming and activism. The family lives in a modest house in their village, where they own about 10 acres of land. They also have some livestock and a tractor.
Jagjit Dallewal is known for his simple and humble lifestyle. He does not own any luxury cars or properties. He does not charge any fees or accept any donations for his speeches or appearances. He travels by public transport or his tractor and stays in the tents or the houses of his supporters. He spends most of his time and money on the welfare of the farmers and the poor. He is also a devout Sikh and follows the teachings of Guru Nanak.
Net Worth
According to some sources, his net worth is estimated to be around Rs. 15 crore, which is mainly derived from his agricultural income and some savings. However, he has never disclosed his exact income or assets to the public or the media.
Awards and Recognition
Jagjit Singh Dallewal has received several awards and recognition for his work and leadership in the farmer movement. Some of them are:
- The Kisan Ratna Award by the All India Kisan Sabha in 2018
- The Krantikari Kisan Award by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha in 2020
- The Annadata Shree Award by the Bharat Krishak Samaj in 2021
- The People’s Choice Award by the India Today Group in 2022
- The Padma Shri Award by the Government of India in 2024
He has also been featured in various national and international media outlets, such as The New York Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post, BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, and others. He has been ranked among the most influential and inspiring people in India by several magazines and surveys.
Jagjit Singh Dallewal is a farmer leader who has dedicated his life to the cause of the farmers and the rural masses. He is a fearless and charismatic leader who has challenged the government and the status quo with his mass mobilization and agitation. He is a respected and revered figure among the farmers and the common people, who see him as their hero and savior. He is also a visionary and a reformer who has advocated for a new model of agriculture and development that is sustainable, equitable, and inclusive. He is a true son of the soil and a pride of the nation.
