Farmers begin protest in Punjab; others to join nationwide bandh today, indefinite Rail Roko protest from Oct 1 against farm Bills
Farmers’ union in Punjab began their three-day “Rail Roko” protest on Thursday against the three farm Bills, while others have given a call for a nationwide “bandh” on September 25, and indefinite “Rail Roko” protest from October 1. According to farmers’ leaders, roads, highways and rail tracks will be blocked.
Farmers from Western Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have decided to join the farmers’ protests. The farmers have also received support from 18 political parties, including the Congress which has Governments in four States, TMC in West Bengal, Left in Kerala, AAP in Delhi, TRS in Telangana, Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, Shiv Sena and NCP in Maharashtra.
As many as 10 Central trade unions, including All India Trade Union Congress, National Trades Union Congress, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, All India United Trade Union Centre and Trade Union Coordination Centre have come out in support of “Bharat Bandh”. The Ola Cab Drivers’ Association and lorry drivers’ association too have decided to support the farmers and are unlikely to operate on Friday.
Meanwhile, several social media users were quick to point out that NCB has summoned Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone on September 25 itself in a drug case, on the day of nationwide protests by farmers. Social media is abuzz with speculation that this may act as a diversionary tactic.
In view of the mass protests, Railway authorities said 26 pairs of special trains and nine parcel trains will remain suspended from September 24 to September 26, while 20 trains have been partially canceled, five terminated before destination.
Among the trains that will remain suspended are the Golden Temple Mail (Amritsar-Mumbai Central), Jan Shatabdi Express (Haridwar-Amritsar), New Delhi-Jammu Tawi, Karambhoomi (Amritsar-New Jalpaiguri), Sachkhand Express (Nanded-Amritsar) and Shaheed Express (Amritsar-Jaynagar), officials said. Many freight and parcel trains have also been rescheduled.
Farmers under the banners of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee and the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) squatted on rail tracks in Barnala, Sangrur, Ferozepur and Amritsar on Thursday morning. They have set up tents on railway tracks in the State. Farmers in Fazilka and Abohar districts took out tractor rallies in their districts. They vowed to gherao BJP leaders and socially boycott those who voted in favour of the farm Bills. According to farmers leaders, over 100 farmers and arhatiya (commission agents) will participate in the nationwide shutdown.
A representative of organisations said roads and railway tracks will be blocked at 125 places across Punjab.
“As per information from across the State, the call for bandh has received a positive response from various unions of truckers, buses, tempos, employees, youngsters, students, labourers and others,” said Benod Pandey, a representative of all farm unions. He added that as per their initial estimates, rail tracks and roads would be blocked at around 125 locations across various districts of Punjab.
In Haryana, INLD and Congress held protests at several districts. Farmer leaders said that several farmer organisations like Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), All India Farmers Union (AIFU), All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), All India Kisan Mahasangh (AIKM) have come on a common platform for the nationwide shutdown. Farmer leaders in Haryana are considering blocking the rail and road traffic in various districts of the State on the day, said leaders familiar with the developments.
Farmer union leaders, including the BKU (Charuni) and BKU (Tikait) were holding meetings with leaders of different organisations like Ahritia’s (commission agents) Association, transporters and shopkeepers to support the Bharat Bandh by keeping their shops shut from 10 am to 4 pm. They claimed that all the mandis in the State had decided to remain shut and there will be no business on Friday.
Farmers in West Bengal will block roads and highways while farmers in Uttar Pradesh will jam their respective villages, towns and highways.
The Railways on Thursday said the ‘rail roko’ agitation in Punjab over farm Bills will severely impact the loading of foodgrains and other essential goods as well as the movement of passengers travelling on special trains, mostly on an urgent basis. Officials here said that Punjab loaded 990 rakes of FCI foodgrains in August this year and 816 rakes till September 23. Thus, FCI is loading more than 35 rakes of foodgrains daily from Punjab. They said Punjab also loads 9-10 rakes daily of fertiliser, cement, auto, mixed goods in containers. The State also receives around 20 rakes daily of coal, food grain, farm products, machinery petroleum products, imported fertiliser etc.
