Trains disrupted by farmers' stop rail movement in protest of agricultural bills

(PTI) Chandigarh / New Delhi, Ta. Thursday, September 24, 2020

As part of a three-day 'Stop Rail' agitation in Punjab in protest of agricultural bills passed in Parliament, farmers on Thursday blocked railway tracks at several places including Amritsar, Ferozepur, Sangrur, Barnala, Mansa and Nabha and set up barricades on the railway tracks to prevent any untoward incidents. Train services were canceled.

Railways has partially canceled 20 trains for three days till September 26, while the routes of five trains have been shortened. It has been decided to cancel the trains to avoid any damage to the trains as well as for the safety of the passengers.

The trains canceled by the railways include Golden Temple Mail (Amritsar-Mumbai-Central), Jan Shatabdi Express (Haridwar-Amritsar), New Delhi-Jammu Tawi, Karmabhoomi (Amritsar-New Jalpaiguri), Sachkhand Express (Nanded-Amritsar) and Shahi. -Jayanagar), officials said. Routine train services are currently closed due to the Corona epidemic.

31 farmers' organizations have called for a Punjab dam on September 25. Farmers in Punjab fear that the bill will shut down the MSP and leave farmers at the mercy of big companies.

The Rail Roko movement was announced by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Samiti and was later supported by other farmers' organizations. Activists of the Indian Kiss organization had set up camp on the railway tracks in Barnala and Sangrur on Thursday morning. Farmers sat on the railway tracks under the banner of Samiti near Basti Tanka in Ferozepur and Devidaspura village in Amritsar.

The farmers chanted anti-NDA slogans and warned to intensify the agitation if the agriculture bills were not withdrawn. Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Samiti in Amritsar, said the agricultural bills were passed without discussing with the farmers and only the interests of big companies were taken into account.

If these bills are in the interest of the farmers then why the BJP leaders need to explain. They will continue their struggle until these bills are withdrawn. This fight will last a long time.

Pandher asked the Shiromani Akali Dal to clarify its stance on the bill issue. If the Akali Dal thinks these bills are anti-farmer, then why is it still in the BJP-led NDA. Protesters have set up tents on the railway tracks. He has also arranged rations for three days, the farmers said.

The demonstrations were also attended by women, young and old. Farmer leaders said they have the support of every section of society, including government employees and workers. Satnam Singh Pannu, president of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Samiti, has appealed to political parties, ministers, MPs and MLAs to support the farmers' movement.