Tribune Reporters
Chandigarh, July 31
Farmers, under the aegis of the Samyukt Kisan Union (SKM), today blocked roads and squatted on railway tracks for four hours against what they alleged was the going back on promises made to them by the Centre. The ‘chakka jam’ protest by various farmer unions had been announced earlier this month.
It is learnt that farmers protested at 75 places on the rail tracks and at almost 20 places on the roads. As a result of protesters squatting on rail tracks, five trains were cancelled, eight were rescheduled and some were terminated before their destinations, thus inconveniencing hundreds of people.
BKU Ekta Ugrahan general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan said that their members staged dharnas at eight toll plazas in six districts.
Dr Darshan Pal of SKM said that farmers staged dharnas and protested at 100 places across the country. He said that the main demands of the farmers were a law that guaranteed MSP on crops, justice for victims of Lakhimpur Kheri incident and cancellation of all cases registered against farmers during the year-long protest against Centre’s three farm laws, which were later withdrawn.
Amritsar: Various farmer unions staged a protest on rail tracks for four hours at the railway station here on Sunday. Farmer leaders Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala and Rattan Singh Randhawa said that the main promises have not been fulfilled.
Several trains were disrupted and passengers had to face inconvenience. A separate rail ‘roko’ protest was also organised by Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee at Vallah.
Fatehgarh Sahib: The district unit of SKM disrupted rail traffic for four hours on the main Delhi-Amritsar route and Ambala-Nangal route. A large number of farmers sat on the rail track at Sirhind railway station.
The speakers lashed out at the Union and state governments for failing to implement the demands conceded during the withdrawal of the year-long agitation against the three farm laws.
Patiala: Farmers under the banner of SKM blocked the railway lines in Rajpura and Patiala today. Hundreds of farmers gathered in Rajpura and continued to protest even in the rain.
Avtar Singh Kaurjiwala, Patiala block leader of Krantikari Kisan Union, said, “We blocked railway tracks primarily at Rajpura and at other places throughout the state and country for four hours — from 11 am to 3 pm. Farmers associated with the SKM will go to Lakhimpur Khiri to hold a protest at the district headquarters for 75 hours from August 18 to 20.”
Ferozepur: Hundreds of farmers belonging to various farmers unions blocked the railway tracks in Ferozepur, Talwandi Bhai, Guruharsahai and Makhu. As a result, 15 trains in this railway division were affected. As per information, nine trains were cancelled, eight trains were rescheduled and two trains were short-terminated.
Seema Sharma, Divisional Railway Manager, said that proper security arrangements were made in advance and additional RPF guards had been deployed to prevent any untoward incident. “The timetable of few trains was also changed,” she said.
Bathinda: Farmer unions blocked railway tracks for four hours in Bathinda and Mansa districts. Union members observed two-minute silence to pay obeisance to Shaheed Udham Singh on his martyrdom day before starting the protest.
State senior vice-president of BKU Ekta Ugrahan, Jhanda Singh Jethuke, said, “At the time of ending the farmers’ stir at the Delhi borders over three farm laws, the BJP-led Centre had made promises to SKM that it would fulfill our demands but it has backtracked from its own promises.”
Moga: The four-hour protest disrupted train movement in the state, causing inconvenience to passengers. At least 15 trains were cancelled and diverted in Ferozepur railway division, said a spokesman of Railways. In Moga, the farmers squatted on the railway lines at Dagru village and in Moga city. Besides, the protesters also squatted on the rail tracks at several places, including Jalandhar, Amritsar, Phillaur, Ferozepur, Bathinda and many other locations in the border state despite rain.
Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal, BKU (Kadian) president Harmeet Singh Kadian said ttrains were stopped from 11 am to 3 pm in many many parts of the country.
Promises ‘not kept’, Punjab farmers block roads, trains
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