Farmers Movement Archive

Punjab: Allow trains, industrialists urge farmers

PATIALA: With disruption of freight trains in Punjab forcing industrialists to appeal to farmers’ unions in Punjab to go soft on the movement of passenger trains, farmers’ leaders said a final decision would be taken by farm bodies collectively in their meeting on Wednesday. Industrialists told farmers that their agitation had upended industrial activity because the Union government had found a reason to stop freight trains as farmers were not allowing passenger trains. Industrialists in Ludhiana associated with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), urged farmers’ bodies to protest in a way that industry in Punjab was not affected. They said they saw a window of opportunity as imports from China were plugged but halting of freight trains by the Union government had an adverse impact on the industry in Punjab. CII Ludhiana zonal vice-chairman Arshpreet Sahni said, “We have coordinated with farmers’ leaders and requested them to shape their agitation in a way that it may not harm the industry in Punjab as industrialists are also supporting farmers. Textile exports have been badly affected and industrialists in Ludhiana, a textile hub, have incurred huge losses. Train is the cheapest mode of transportation for a number of industrialists. Industrial units and traders of agriculture and auto parts as well as hand tools manufacturers have been affected. Dry fruit businessmen in Amritsar and other parts are also affected as winter has started but import and export has been disrupted.” While farm leaders said they may consider the request of industrialists, a final decision on the movement of passenger trains will be taken collectively by farm unions by Wednesday. Jagmohan Singh, BKU (Dakaunda) general secretary said, “We will consider the request of industrialists and the decision to allow or disallow passenger trains in Punjab will be taken collectively. We do not want to cause losses to Punjab. Our main agenda for Wednesday’s meeting is the protest in Delhi and Delhi Chalo agitation as the Delhi police have denied permission to farmers to protest despite the Ramleela ground management and Delhi Municipal Corporation granting permission to us.”

The Times of India

2020-11-18

Chandigarh