The ‘rail roko’ protest by farmers in Punjab entered its third day today, on 30th September. The farmers, in large numbers, have occupied railway tracks as part of their agitation, demanding a financial package for the losses incurred in recent floods, a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), withdrawal of cases related to the Delhi agitation, and compensation and jobs for families of farmers who lost their lives during the protests. The protest, organized by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee in Amritsar, commenced on 28th September and is scheduled to continue until today.
Shobhan Chaudhuri, the General Manager of Northern Railway, spoke to news agency ANI about the ongoing farmers’ protest and confirmed that the movement of trains has been severely affected. “Around 90 mail express trains and 150 passenger trains have been canceled so far. We are assessing the situation…,” he told ANI.
Here are 10 key points to help you understand the situation:
Train Disruptions: Northern Railway announced that Train Number 04591 from Ludhiana-Chheharata Special JCO from 28.09.2023 to 30.10.2023 shall be short-terminated at Mananwala, while 04592 Chheharata-Ludhiana Special JCO from the same period shall short-originate from Mananwala.
Protests Across Punjab: The ‘rail roko’ agitation is taking place at 20 different locations in Punjab, including Faridkot, Samrala, Moga, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, Tarn Taran, Sangrur, Patiala, Ferozepur, Bathinda, and Amritsar.
Train Disruptions: Railway officials reported that several trains were canceled, routes of many others were diverted, and some were short-terminated due to the ongoing agitation. In total, 91 trains under the Ferozepur division were canceled, 48 short-terminated, five short-originated, and 35 diverted. Additionally, 179 passenger trains and 14 goods trains were impacted.
Highway Blockade: On a previous day, farmers also blocked the Chandigarh-Ambala-Delhi national highway for seven hours, causing significant traffic disruptions. The blockade was lifted after assurance from district administration authorities.
Multiple Farmer Groups: Various farmer groups, including the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Bharti Kisan Union (Krantikari), Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Azaad), Azaad Kisan Committee, Doaba, and others, are participating in the protest.
Future Plans: Harpal Singh Sangha, the state chief of the Azad Kisan Committee, Doaba, mentioned that the agitation will continue until Saturday. If their demands are not met by then, further actions will be decided upon.
Demands: Farmers are demanding a financial package for flood-affected people in northern India, a legal guarantee for MSP on all crops, and a debt waiver for farmers.
Financial Relief: According to farmer leader Gurbachan Singh, farmers are seeking a ₹50,000-crore flood relief package for north Indian states and MSP as per the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission report.
Debt Waiver: In addition, they are calling for a complete waiver of the debt of farmers and laborers, as well as ₹10 lakh and a government job as compensation for the families of farmers who lost their lives during the protests against the now-repealed three farm laws.
Passenger Disruptions: The ongoing protest has inconvenienced hundreds of railway passengers traveling to various destinations, including Delhi, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. Passengers have faced uncertainty and delays, with some stranded at railway stations.
The ‘rail roko’ protest in Punjab has caused significant disruptions to train services and highway traffic. The farmers’ demands for financial relief, MSP guarantees, and compensation for those affected by the protests remain central to the ongoing agitation. The situation continues to evolve, and the farmers have expressed their determination to continue their protest until their demands are addressed.