rain and road traffic was hit in Punjab for second day on Thursday as thousands of farmers seeking higher compensation for crops damaged in Whitefly attack continued their stir, while unions spearheading the protest announced to extend it for another two days.
Jagmohan Singh, secretary general of BKU (Ekta), said the “core committee meeting of farmers’ unions decided to continue with their protest for the next two days.”
“We are unhappy with the adamant approach of the Parkash Singh Badal government which did not even thought of holding talks with the protesting farmers,” he said.
Commuters continued to face inconvenience as railway tracks were blocked at six places in the State.
Railways said that the traffic was hit on Bathinda-Sirsa, Ganganagar-Ferozepur, Bathinda-Bikaner, Ludhiana-Ferozepur, Bathinda-Patiala and Delhi-Mansa railway track due to the agitation.
Farmers are squatting on rail tracks at Mansa, Shergarh and Rampura area of Bathinda, Pathrala area of Muktsar, Dagru area of Ludhiana and Mucchhal in Amritsar, he said adding the Lehra-Sunam State highway had also been blocked.
The agitators are demanding Rs 40,000 per acre compensation for farmers whose crops got damaged by Whitefly attack and Rs 20,000 per family compensation for farm labour.
They are demanding Rs 5 lakh financial assistance to the family of farmers who commit suicide.
They are also demanding Rs 4,500 per quintal rate for basmati PUSA 1509 variety, and Rs 5,000 per quintal for basmati PUSA 1121 variety. Besides, they are also seeking payments of sugarcane dues by private mills and debt relief.
Meanwhile, the core committee decided to extend their protest for another two days- October 9 and 10- the famers’ union leader said.
Mr. Singh alleged that the Punjab government is “callous and unconcerned” with the problems of the farmers.
“Some 4,000 agitating farmers were rounded up by police from across the State and later released,” Mr. Singh said.
He also said that more farmers joined the agitation on Thursday at six different places in the State and on one State highway.
However, police said that agitating peasants were “forcibly” lifted from the tracks at two places.
The police lifted small gatherings of farmers which had blocked rail traffic in Jaito area of Bathinda and Chand area in Faridkot district, officials said, adding that with this two tracks Ferozepur-Abohar and Faridkot-Bathinda have been opened.
As many as eight farmers’ organisations including BKU Ekta (Dakunda), BKU Ekta (Ugrahan), BKU (Krantikari), Kirti Kisan Union are participating in the agitation.
According to a report from Jaipur, the North Western Railways on Thursday cancelled five passengers’ trains on the Suratgarh-Punjab route as a preventive measure in wake of farmers’ agitation between the Dabwali-Bagwali section, an official said here.
Five trains have been cancelled on Suratgarh-Punjab rail sections and 11 others were partially cancelled or diverted, NWR DGM and CPRO Tarun Jain said in a statement. PTI
As many as eight farmers’ organisations are participating in the agitation
