->Preet Manak Singh at 11:16, 17 January 2022

2022-01-17T11:16:29Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2021}}
{{short description|Farm union leader and politician}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Balbir Singh Rajewal
| image = Balbir Singh Rajewal. President, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU Rajewal). 01 (cropped).jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1943|8|20|df=y}}<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-12-03|title=The farmer negotiators|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/punjab-farmers-protest-delhi-govt-talks-7078678/|access-date=2021-12-25|work=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=ਅੱਜ ਹੈ ਕਿਸਾਨ ਆਗੂ ਬਲਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਰਾਜੇਵਾਲ ਦਾ ਜਨਮਦਿਨ|url=https://www.facebook.com/100068219944872/posts/184594340491230/|author=Rozana Spokesman|url-status=live|date=20 August 2021|access-date=26 December 2021|language=Pa|website=Facebook}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Ludhiana]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British India]],<br>(now in [[Punjab, India]])
| father =
| movement = [[2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest]]
| party = [[Sanyukt Samaj Morcha]]
| occupation = Farmer Protestor and Politician
}}
'''Balbir Singh Rajewal''' (born 20 August 1943) is a farm union leader and politician. He is founder of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) and the Chief Ministerial candidate of Sanyukt Samaj Morcha party for the [[2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election]]. Rajewal is known for his active participation in [[2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest|2020 Farmers' protest]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sethi|first=Chitleen K.|date=2020-12-02|title=Acupuncturist, ex-Army man, doctor — 5 farmer leaders who shaped protest against farm laws|url=https://theprint.in/india/acupuncturist-ex-army-man-doctor-5-farmer-leaders-who-shaped-protest-against-farm-laws/555363/|access-date=2021-12-25|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Rajewal was born on 20 August 1943. He started his career as a telegraphist in the post and telegraph department but in 1968 he resigned from his job.<ref name="Rajewal" />

== Farmer activist ==
In May 1972, Rajewal formed ''[[Bharatiya Kisan Union#History|Punjab Khetibari Union]]'' with merger of 11 peasants group in [[Chandigarh]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=India: Government and Politics in a Developing Nation|last1=Kochanek|first1=Stanley A.|last2=Hardgrave|first2=Robert L.|publisher=[[Cengage Learning]]|year=2007|isbn=978-0495007494|pages=255}}</ref>

When in 1978, PKU transformed into [[Bharatiya Kisan Union]], he was appointed as Secretary of the Union.<ref name=Rajewal>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/amritsar/50-years-in-farm-fight-and-going-strong-balbir-singh-rajewal/articleshow/87815710.cms|title=50 years in farm fight and going strong Balbir Singh Rajewal|date=20 November 2021|website=Times of India|access-date=25 December 2021}}</ref> He is also credited with writing the Constitution of BKU. He also worked with [[Mahendra Singh Tikait]] and [[Sharad Anantrao Joshi]]. In 2009, he went on hunger strike and demanded relief for farmers under draught funds and then uplift the hunger strike with one glass of juice rather than claiming relief fund.<ref name=Rajewal/>

===2020 Farmers Protest===
{{Main|2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest}}
[[File:Balbir Singh Rajewal. President, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU Rajewal). 02.jpg|thumb|Rajewal during the farmers' protest]]
In 2020, Government of India passed three farm acts, along with other 31 Farmer Unions in Punjab,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ludhiana/farm-laws-punjab-farmer-unions-one-year-7519586/|title=Punjab Farmer unions one year|date=19 September 2021|website=[[Indian Express]]|access-date=25 December 2021}}</ref> he started protest against these laws in Punjab and then at Singhu Border near Delhi at Haryana.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/doctor-teacher-ex-police-constable-the-men-who-led-the-farmers-agitation-10149531.html|title=Men who led farmers agitation|date=19 November 2021|website=Firstpost|access-date=25 December 2021}}</ref> He is also the member of [[Samyukt Kisan Morcha]] (SKM).

==Politics==
Rajewal has been close to various political parties in past, including [[Shiromani Akali Dal]], [[Indian National Congress]], and [[Aam Aadmi Party]], but didn't accept any official post.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-26|title=From being a farm stir face, Rajewal set to play a key role in Punjab polls|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/political-pulse/farm-stir-rajewal-play-key-role-punjab-polls-7690468/|access-date=2021-12-26|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> During 2020-2021 Farmer's protest, he was against any political participation.<ref name="oneindia face">{{cite web|url=https://www.oneindia.com/videos/balbir-singh-rajewal-to-be-cm-face-of-punjab-farmers-group-for-polls-aap-alliance-2137490.html|title=Balbir Singh Rajewal to be cm face|website=One India|access-date=25 December 2021}}</ref>

After the withdrawal of Farm laws by [[Government of India]] in November 2021, the 22 Farm unions of Punjab broke away from the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and announced intentions to participate in [[2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election]].<ref name="Breakaway 25 Dec" /> Balbir Singh Rajewal has announced to be Chief Minister face of the new party named as Sanyukt Samaj Morcha.<ref name="oneindia face"/> SKM has distanced itself from the new party and said it is not associated with SSM. The new party is not allowed to use the SKM banners.<ref name="Breakaway 25 Dec">{{cite news |title=Breakaway farmer unions say they will contest Punjab polls |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/breakaway-farmer-unions-say-they-will-contest-punjab-polls-101640455106386.html |access-date=26 December 2021 |work=Hindustan Times |date=25 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rajewal, Balbir Singh}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:Punjab, India politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:Leaders of 2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest]]

Balbir Singh Rajewal - Revision history

->Preet Manak Singh at 11:16, 17 January 2022