Railway Passengers Disrupted by Farmers' 'Rail Roko' Demonstration in Punjab
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Chandigarh, Dec 18 (NationPress) Railway passengers experienced significant disruption in Punjab on Wednesday when farmers staged a sit-in on the railway tracks, rallying for their long-standing demands, including a legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP) for their produce.
Fortunately, a senior police official informed IANS that no adverse incidents occurred in the region.
The demonstration, organized by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, took place at over 100 locations throughout the state, severely affecting railway operations.
Sarwan Singh Pandher, a leader from Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, stated that the three-hour “rail roko” initiative received a strong response across the state.
The protest's effects were notably felt in places such as Moga, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Batala, Qadian, Phillaur, Tanda, Dasuya, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, and Sunam.
Farmers from both groups have been stationed at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, after their attempt to march to Delhi was thwarted by security personnel.
While addressing a petition, the Supreme Court remarked on Wednesday that its doors were “always open” to the demands and proposals of the protesting farmers, who have declined to engage with the committee established by the Punjab government.
The Punjab government reported to the apex court that despite multiple meetings with the fasting farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, the farmers have dismissed interactions with the state's high-powered committee.
Farmers, whose attempts to enter Haryana in support of their enduring demands have been blocked three times, halted train services to express their dissent and push for their requests.
The 70-year-old cancer patient Dallewal has been on a fast at Khanauri, the border point between Punjab and Haryana, since November 26, advocating for their demands, which include loan waivers and reforms aimed at enhancing conditions in the agricultural sector.
