Protesting farmers lay siege to railway tracks in Mohali

Members of several farmers unions on Wednesday sat on tracks across the district as part of their three-hour “Rail Roko” protest to press the Centre into accepting their various demands, including a legally binding minimum support price for crops.

Union members staged a protest in Lalru, Mohali, Kharar by blocking the railway tracks from 12 noon to 3 pm.

The call for the “Rail Roko” had been given by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.

In Lalru, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) state executive member Manpreet Singh Amalala, state president of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur) led the protest at Sarsini railway crossing near Lalru. They expressed their support for farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border point between Punjab and Haryana. Protesters raised slogans against the alleged oppression of farmers by the Central and Haryana government and demanded that their demands be implemented with immediate effect.

At the Mohali railway station, SKM, Rajewal group and Bharatiya Kisan Union (Puadh) union members said all farmer union members were united and determined to continue the protest till their demands are met. “We are not against development as is being portrayed. Farmers are the leaders in the development of this country,” said Paramjit Singh, a protester.

Heavy police presence was also witnessed at the site.

At Kharar too, hundreds of protesters sat on railway track to press for their demands. While some raised slogans, one of the protesters, Ramesh Singh Numberdar “Rana Raghuvanshi” kept his fellow protesters engaged with songs, exhorting them to the “Jung da Maidaan”.