Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers squat on rail tracks

Amritsar, February 18On the call of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), kisan unions organised a massive four-hour long ‘rail roko’ protest at Amritsar railway station to make it successful on Thursday. Protesting farmers blocked railway tracks from 12 pm to 4 pm.A separate rail blockade was held by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) at Vallah railway crossing. The KMSCis not a part of the SKM and made the headlines after violence in Delhi on January 26.In November 2020, 32 farmers’ associations had lifted the rail blockade after an appeal from Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to ensure regular supply of goods.However, the KMSC had not agreed with the decision and continued with its blockade near Mannawala. As a result, most trains remained dysfunctional and only four trains were being run daily.While the Indian Railways plan to start a few more trains from February 22, officials said today’s blockade disturbed schedule of only one train. The train was scheduled to depart at 1 pm, but due to the protest, the departure was delayed till 4 pm.Addressing the gathering at Amritsar railway station, farmer leaders said the protest would continue as long as the three controversial agri laws were not repealed by the Centre.Protesters including men, women, young and elderly, raised slogans against the Central Government. They accused the Centre of selling agriculture sector to corporates. Rattan Singh Randhawa, Harjeet Singh Jhita, Lakhbir Singh Nizampura, Datar Singh, Dhanwant Singh Khtraekalan, Parkash Singh Thothia and Sucha Singh, among others, addressed the gathering.Tarn Taran: On the call given by the national leadership of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha to block trains for four hours on Thursday got a good response in the district. Different farmer outfits staged dharnas on the railway lines and condemned the Central Government for its “indifferent attitude” towards the farmers’ agitation against three farm laws.The farmer organisations in spite of presenting a combined show, mostly preferred to present their organisational power. Activists of the All India Kisan Sabha, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, Kisan Sangharsh Committee Punjab (Kot Budha), Azad Kisan Sangharsh Committee Punjab, Kisan Sangharsh Committee Punjab (Kanwalpreet Pannu) and BKU (Rajewal) staged joint dharna on Jandiala Road railways lines. Daljit Singh Dialpura, Prithipal Singh Marimegha, Darshan Singh Biharipur, Amarjit Singh Klahlwan, Rasal Singh Sandhu, Nirvail Singh Daleke , Yadwinder Singh Rureasaal and other addressing the farmers on the occasion demanded for the repealing of the three controversial farm laws .The workers of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Punjab, blocked trains and staged dharna at the local railways station in Gohalwar. Sukhwider Singh Sabhra, district president, Harpreet Singh Sidhwan, Satnam Singh Manochahal other leaders condemned the Central Government for defaming the farmers’ agitation.Activists of the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) blocked trains on Sarhali Road. Baljit Singh Gandiwind, district president and other leaders of the organisation addressed the protesting farmers and warned the Union Government that the farmers would return home from Delhi only after the three farm laws were repealed.

The Tribune

2021-02-19