3-Hour 'Rail Roko' Protest By Farmers In Punjab
Farmers across Punjab have blocked train routes as part of their three-hour ‘Rail Roko’ protest on Wednesday, demanding the Centre address their key issues, including a legally binding minimum support price (MSP) for crops. The protest, organized by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, began at 12 noon and will continue until 3 pm.
The protest is taking place at several locations including Moga, Faridkot, Kadian, Batala in Gurdaspur, Phillaur in Jalandhar, Tanda, Dasuya, Mahilpur in Hoshiarpur, Makhu, Talwandi Bhai in Ferozepur, Sahnewal in Ludhiana, Shambhu in Patiala, Mohali, and Sunam and Lehra in Sangrur.
Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher confirmed that farmers have been squatting on rail tracks at these locations to push for their demands. This protest follows ongoing tensions since February 13, when farmers under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha started camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana, after their attempt to march to Delhi was blocked by security forces.
In addition to the MSP guarantee, farmers are demanding a debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm laborers, no increase in electricity tariffs, withdrawal of police cases, and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. They are also seeking the reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 and compensation for the families of farmers who died during the 2020-21 protests.
Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border for the past three weeks, urging the Centre to meet these demands, particularly the legal guarantee for MSP on crops.
