Amidst escalating farmer protests, two trains have been cancelled and six others have been diverted in the Ambala railway division as farmers stage ‘rail roko’ demonstrations across Punjab.

Ambala railway division’s senior divisional commercial manager Naveen Kumar confirmed the cancellations and diversions, stating that no Shatabdi or Vande Bharat trains were affected.

 The Shatabdi and Shan-e-Punjab Express trains, scheduled for Thursday, departed for Delhi from Ludhiana Junction instead of their usual departure point, Amritsar. The Sachkhand Express has been rerouted via Chandigarh instead of Ambala, while the Pathankot-Delhi Express will now pass through Dhuri instead.

 Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) and BKU Dakunda (Dhaner) had given the call for a four-hour 'rail roko' protest at several places in Punjab to protest against the action against protesting farmers at Haryana-Punjab borders as a part of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ call. Farmers began their stir around 12 pm by squatting on rail tracks at several places till 4 pm.

 The disruption in train services comes as farmers block railway tracks at various locations in Punjab, forcing authorities to divert trains through alternate routes. Demonstrations were also held at several toll plazas, including one at Dhareri Jattan toll plaza on the Bathinda-Chandigarh national highway, demanding toll plaza exemptions.

 Simultaneously, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and other farmers’ unions have called for a nationwide strike, or ‘Bharat Bandh’, on February 16. The call comes as hundreds of farmers from Punjab, marching towards Delhi, face resistance at the state border near Ambala, with Haryana security forces resorting to tear gas to deter them.

 The Bharat Bandh is expected to impact transportation, agricultural activities, MNREGA rural works, private offices, village shops, and rural industrial and service sector institutions. Emergency services such as ambulance operations, medical shops, and students going for board exams are likely to remain unaffected.

 The farmers’ demands include a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, strengthening of the MGNREGS, reinstatement of the old pension scheme, and pension and social security for workers in both formal and informal sectors. They also seek free power for farming and domestic use, comprehensive crop insurance, and a hike in pensions among others.

 The joint call for the Bharat Bandh has garnered support from public intellectuals and artists, who have issued a statement urging people to extend support to the farmers and workers' cause. This united struggle, they assert, challenges the government's pro-corporate, anti-people policies and communal propaganda.

 
Internet shutdown in Punjab’s 3 districts; CM Writes to Centre

In the wake of farmers’ Dilli Chalo’ campaign and the “Bharat Bandh” call for February 16, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has ordered the shutdown of internet services in three districts of Punjab. Patiala, Sangrur, and Fatehgarh Sahib have witnessed internet suspension in certain areas — a move that has sparked outrage from the Punjab Government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

 Unhappy, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has written a stern letter to the Central Government expressing strong disapproval and demanding the immediate restoration of the internet services in the three districts.

 AAP spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang denounced the decision by the Central Government to impose such restrictions in Punjab's districts. As per the Ministry’s order, internet services will be suspended in regions falling under these specific police stations: Shutrana, Samana, Ghanaur, Devigarh, and Balbhera in Patiala; Khanauri, Moonak, Lehra, Sunam and Chajli in Sangrur; and Fatehgarh Sahib police station area.

 On the other hand, the MHA has justified the internet shutdown citing the Public Emergency and Public Safety Rules 2017.

 The decision has caused inconvenience to the residents in affected areas of Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, and Sangrur. Upon investigation, Member of Parliament Dr Amar Singh discovered the Central Government's role in the internet suspension, prompting further action from the state government.

 The move comes amidst heightened tensions between farmers and the Central Government, with the ‘Delhi Chalo’ movement gaining momentum.


Hry Govt extends mobile Internet curbs in 7 districts till February 17

 Haryana Government on Thursday extended the ban on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts by two days till February 17 in view of the farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ agitation. These districts are Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa, the government said in an order. On February 13, the state government had extended the suspension of these services for two days. On Tuesday, farmers from Punjab faced tear gas shells at two border points as protesters tried to break past barricades set up by the Haryana Police to stop them from heading to the national capital.

In the order, additional chief secretary of Haryana T V S N Prasad said, “After assessment of the current prevailing law & order situation in the state, the conditions are still critical and tense in the districts of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa.”              

“There is a clear potential of disruption of public utilities, damage to public assets and amenities and disturbance of public law and order in above-mentioned districts on account of misuse of internet services by way of spread of inflammatory material and false rumours,” Prasad said.