Commuters in Punjab continued to face a harrowing time for the third consecutive day on Friday with several trains affected in the state because of the ‘Rail Roko’ agitation of farmers’ outfits protesting against SAD-BJP-led State Government for their “anti-farmers” policies.
A total of 27 trains were cancelled, 24 were short originated, terminated and diverted in the state, said a railway official. The trains that stand cancelled included the Chandigarh-Amritsar intercity, Dehradun-Amritsar Express, New Delhi-Amritsar Express.
Over 15,000 farmers blocked the rail traffic seeking higher compensation for crops damaged in white fly attack and also Rs five lakh financial assistance to the family of farmers who committed suicide.
A day before, the farmers’ unions spearheading the movement had extended the stir for another two days till October 10.
Available information suggests that as many as 27 trains including mail, express and passenger were cancelled while 51 trains were diverted, short terminated and short originated by railway authorities in Ferozepur division.
In Ambala Railways division, 107 trains have so far been cancelled since October 7, officials said.
The agitating farmers squatted on railway tracks at different places in Punjab, forcing railways to cancel or divert several trains.
“We are continuing with our protest against the lackadaisical attitude of the Punjab government towards farmers’ issues,” said BKU Ekta (Dakunda) general secretary Jagmohan Singh.
Protesters have blocked rail traffic at Mansa, Rampura, Shergarh (Bathinda), Pathrala, Dagru (Moga), lehragaga, Mucchal (Amritsar), Singh said.
Because of farmers’ protest, train movement was hit on the ludhiana-Ferozepur, ludhiana-Amritsar, Fazilka-Ferozepur, Ferozepur-Bathinda, Ganganagar-Ferozepur sections, railway officials said.
However, farmers’ outfits have decided not to block the train service from Abohar to Bikaner which carries cancer patients, Singh said, adding that some farmers have also blocked road traffic at Sangrur and Barnala.
The police have released about 4,000 protesting farmers who were picked up
during two-day protest, he added.
BKU (Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri said: “Though our coordination committee of eight farmers' organisation will take a call on next course of action tomorrow, the Rail Roko agitation may further be extended beyond October 10 if no concrete offer comes from state government,”
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, only a day before, had said that the state government was ready to accept every genuine demand.
Punjab Government has claimed that it has released maximum compensation to cotton growers whose crop was damaged because of pest attack. Akali Dal had even accused farmers’ outfits of “playing politics” over the peasants’ issues.
Among various demands, farmers in Punjab have been demanding Rs 40,000 per acre compensation for farmers whose crop got damaged by whitefly attack, Rs 20,000 per family compensation for farm labour, Rs 4,500 per quintal rate for basmati PUSA 1509 variety, and Rs 5,000 per quintal for basmati PUSA 1121 variety.
Kokri, regarding harassment faced by the passengers, said: “We have given enough time to SAD-BJP-led state government to resolve farmers' issues. But they did not take it seriously, forcing us to take this step.”
At the same time, the state’s trade and commerce was hit as hosiery and iron and steel manufacturers complained that their commodities were stuck at railway stations.
(with agencies inputs)