Farmers to block train traffic in Punjab today
Commuters are likely to face inconvenience as farmer unions will resort to state-wide “Rail Roko” agitation on Wednesday. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher announced that activists of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha would block rail traffic from 12 noon to 3 pm.
The agitation is intended to press for the acceptance of farmers’ demands. The protest also aligns with the indefinite fast by farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal at Khanauri.
He urged the protesting farmers to avoid isolated railway tracks and instead assemble at railway stations in their respective villages, towns and cities for the “Rail Roko” protest.
Pandher thanked farmers nationwide for participating in tractor marches in support of Dallewal and other protesting farmers sitting at Shambhu and Khanauri borders for over 300 days. He also expressed gratitude to Punjabi singers for backing the farmers’ cause and urged the government to resolve various issues at the earliest.
Meanwhile, the Progressive Students Association (PSA) has announced to burn effigies of the government at various locations to express solidarity with the protesting farmers. The PSA’s involvement underscores the broad-based support the farmers’ movement continues to receive.
Thirty-three farmers have died at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders since the protest began on February 13. Shubhkaran Singh (22) was shot dead during a protest in February, while over 500 farmers were injured in separate incidents when security personnel prevented them from marching towards Delhi.
In the latest tussle, three “Dilli Chalo” attempts (on December 6, 8 and 14) by Marjeevda Jathas were thwarted by the Haryana Police and paramilitary personnel, leaving over 50 farmers injured.
Besides a legal guarantee on MSP, the farmers are also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, debt waiver, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence etc.
