No end to farm economy unease

The problem is deeper than MSP and loan waivers - only an objective conversation between the two sides can mitigate the crisis

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Jagjit Singh Dallewal, the 70-year-old leader of the Bharti Kisan Union Ekta Sidhupur in Punjab, has now been on a hunger strike for 40 days. Despite his failing health, and the threat it poses to not just Dallewal's physical well-being but also the overall peace and tranquillity in Punjab, the Union and Punjab governments have been passing the buck instead of doing anything concrete to resolve the situation.

The Supreme Court said this in unambiguous terms while hearing the matter on January 2.

In many ways, the situation is a reflection of the unease in the farm sector, particularly in its erstwhile prosperous and prestigious Green Revolution region.

Dallewal's hunger strike began after the protesting farmers in Punjab were refused permission to march to Delhi to press their demands, which included guaranteed Minimum Support Prices (MSP) and debt waivers.