Hundreds of farmers from several farm unions on Thursday launched their “rail roko” protest over various demands, including a financial package for losses caused by recent floods, a legal guarantee to Minimum Support Price (MSP) and a debt waiver. Movement of trains will remain affected on the Delhi-Punjab route till September 30.
Several farmer bodies, including the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Bharti Kisan Union (Krantikari), BKU (Ekta Azaad), Azaad Kisan Committee Doaba, BKU (Behramke), BKU (Shaheed Bhagat Singh), and BKU (Chottu Ram), are participating in the protest against the Centre.
Why Are Farmers Protesting?
As many as 19 farmer unions representing six North Indian states are participating in the blockade. The primary organization leading the protest is the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) from Punjab, which has garnered support from unions in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
Among their primary demands are a Rs 50,000 crore flood relief package for the flood-affected regions in North India, the enactment of an MSP guarantee law, the provision of 300 days of employment under MGNREGA, and addressing the issue of drug addiction, particularly in Punjab, Indian Express reported.
In Amritsar, farmer leader Gurbachan Singh said the farmers are demanding a Rs 50,000-crore flood relief package for north Indian states and MSP as per the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission report.
Singh said the entire debt of farmers and labourers should be waived. He also demanded Rs 10 lakh compensation and a government job for the family of each farmer who died during the agitation against the now-repealed three farm laws.
Where Are Protests Being Held?
Train blockades are taking place at railway stations in Moga, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Batala, Jalandhar Cantonment, Tarn Taran, Sunam, Nabha, Basti Tankwali, Mallanwala, Rampura, and Devidaspura, according to Satnam Singh Pannu, the president of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC).
Farmers have planned to hold agitations in Moga, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, Tarn Taran, Sangrur, Patiala, Ferozepur, Bathinda, and Amritsar.
The protests will continue until September 30, with farmers from Haryana, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh joining their counterparts in Punjab on the railway tracks.
Trains Affected/Cancelled
The Railways has cancelled some trains in the region while routes of many trains have been shortened. The route of Amritsar- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminal (11058) has been changed. Now the train will come from Ludhiana to Ambala via Sirhind Junction instead of Ludhiana, Dhuri Junction and Ambala, according to Dainik Baskar.
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