ail services were hit at several places in Punjab with farmers’ outfits starting their two-day ‘Rail Roko’ agitation from Wednesday in protest against the State government’s “anti-farmer” policies.
As many as six trains have been stopped by the protesters at different places, causing great inconvenience to passengers, railway officials said.
The affected trains include Amarpali Express (15707), Delhi Sarai-Ferozpur Cant intercity (14625) and Rewari-Fazilka passenger train (54784). The affected sections were Ludhiana-Ferozepur, Lohian-Phillaur and Bathinda-Ferozepur, they said.
Farmers in large numbers squatted on railway tracks.
In the wake of the agitation, railway authorities have deployed senior staff in Jalandhar, Ferozepur, Ludhiana, Amritsar and Fazilka for faster implementation of decision such as train diversion to minimise the impact of agitation.
As part of their plan to intensify their agitation, as many as eight farmers’ organisations including BKU Ekta (Dakunda), BKU Ekta (Ugrahan), BKU (Krantikari), Kirti Kisan Union are participating in the agitation.
Farmers had planned to disrupt rail services at about 12 places including Rampura in Bathinda, Mansa, Sunam in Sangrur, Moga, Beas, Phillaur in Jalandhar, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Patiala.
Among various demands, farmers have been demanding Rs 40,000 per acre compensation for those whose crop got damaged by white fly 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.
They have been demanding higher compensation for cotton growers and remunerative rates for basmati crop.
Besides, they are seeking payments of sugarcane dues by private mills, debt relief and Rs 5 lakh financial assistance to the family of farmers who commit suicide.
Railways had asked Punjab government to prevent protesting farmers from disrupting rail services, saying passengers had to face harrowing time because of such protests.
Farmers fear arrest
Meanwhile, farmers’ outfits expressed apprehension that the Punjab Police might round up their leaders to scuttle their protest.
“We fear that our leaders will be detained or arrested tonight so that our rail blockade fails,” BKU (Ugrahan) General Secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri said.
Some leaders have gone underground to avoid arrest. -- PTI
“We fear that our leaders will be detained or arrested tonight to thwart the agitation”
