Diljit Dosanjh Faces Backlash From Protesting Farmers After Meeting Prime Minister Modi
Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on New Year’s Day has sparked criticism from protesting farmer leaders. The meeting, which Dosanjh described as a “fantastic start” to the New Year, has raised concerns among farmers who question the singer’s commitment to the cause he once supported.
Dosanjh, who had previously expressed his support for the farmers’ movement in 2020, was pictured with Modi, prompting a wave of discontent among protestors. The farmers, who have been engaged in protests against the Centre’s agricultural laws for years, voiced their disappointment over the singer’s actions, claiming that his meeting with the Prime Minister contradicted his earlier support for the movement.
One farmer leader at the border, quoted by The Times of India, expressed their frustration: “If Diljit truly cared about farmers, he would have come and joined us in solidarity with Dallewal Ji at Sambhu Border, listened to our concerns, and stood by his earlier statements. Instead, meeting PM Modi raises doubts about his intentions.”
In 2020, Dosanjh had been vocal in his support for the farmers’ protest, which saw thousands of farmers from Punjab and neighbouring states gather at the borders of Delhi. The singer called for the government to meet the farmers’ demands and took to social media to express his solidarity. In one of his posts, Dosanjh wrote, “25 September. We all will stand with the farmer community. Every single person of all age groups from Punjab is standing with the farmers.”
Despite the backlash, Dosanjh’s meeting with Modi has garnered attention, with the Prime Minister praising the singer for his rise from “humble beginnings to international stardom.” Dosanjh’s comments about the meeting, however, have drawn sharp criticism from farmer leaders who feel betrayed by his actions.
The ongoing farmers’ protest continues to focus on several key demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Jagjit Singh Dallewal, convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), is currently on a fast-unto-death at the Khanouri border, calling for the Centre to address these demands. Thousands of farmers have gathered to support him, and despite attempts by the Punjab government to provide medical assistance, Dallewal has refused to end his fast.
As the farmers’ protest persists, Diljit Dosanjh’s recent actions have intensified the debate over celebrity involvement in social movements.
