Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers in Punjab begin rail blockades

Farmers in parts of Punjab on Thursday started a three-day ‘rail roko’ agitation under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Samiti (KMSS) against the Union government’s three farm Bills. The railways suspended several trains completely or partially till September 26 for the safety of passengers and protection of its property. Members of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) blocked railway tracks in Sangrur and Barnala, while members of the Samiti blocked railway lines in Amritsar and Ferozpur. “The ‘rail roko’ will continue till September 26 in the first phase... And if our demands are not met, we will intensify the agitation,” said Sarvan Singh Pandher, State president of KMSS. “We will also support the Bharat bandh call given by the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee,” said Mr. Pandher, adding that representatives of political parties will not be allowed to share the stage in their agitation”. Terming the farm Bills an “ill-conceived move”, Mr. Pandher said their implementation would ultimately lead to exploitation of farmers at the hands of big corporates. “It will lead to the end of the Minimum Support Price regime,” he said. As many as 31 farmers’ outfits based in Punjab have given a call for a total shutdown on September 25.

The Hindu

2020-09-25

CHANDIGARH