TN Farmers Going To Varanasi 'To Contest LS Polls Against PM Modi' Allege Forced Deboarding From Train

The group, numbering around 100, was en route to Varanasi to contest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha elections aboard the Kashi Tamil Express from Tiruchi.

Out of the 120 tickets they booked for the train on Friday, Ayyakannu stated that 39 had Reservation against Cancellation (RAC) status. ( Image Source :X/@ANI )

Tamil Nadu News: A contingent of farmers, led by P. Ayyakannu, president of the Desiya Thenindiya Nadhigal Innaippu Vivasayigal Sangam, alleged that they were forcibly made to disembark from a train at Chengalpattu and redirected to Tiruchi on Friday. They claimed their tickets were abruptly cancelled at the last minute. 

The group, numbering around 100, was en route to Varanasi aboard the Kashi Tamil Express from Tiruchi to "contest" the Lok Sabha elections against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The organisation intended to field 111 farmers in protest against what they perceive as Modi's failure to fulfill promises made to farmers, including interlinking of rivers and the complete waiver of crop loans, according to a report published by The New Indian Express.

As a result of the protest, Varanasi-bound Kashi Tamil Express (16367) faced a delay of more than an hour. The train, scheduled to travel from Kanniyakumari to Varanasi, arrived at Thanjavur junction at 6:45 am instead of the scheduled time of 4:10 am on Friday. Upon departure from the station after a brief halt, farmers who had boarded the train from Tiruchy activated the emergency chain, bringing the train to a stop. They staged a protest, claiming that their confirmed tickets were cancelled and insisted on berth allotment.

Out of the 120 tickets they booked for the train on Friday, Ayyakannu stated that 39 had Reservation against Cancellation (RAC) status. This status ensures that passengers will be provided with a seat to sit until a berth becomes available. The rest of the tickets were wait-listed.

Railway officials and police engaged in discussions with the protesting farmers and pledged to allocate seats for them at Villupuram Junction. Despite assurances, the farmers were not provided seats even upon reaching Villupuram Junction. Consequently, the entire group disembarked at Chengalpattu and staged a protest, the New Indian Express report said, quoting sources.