Punjab Farmers To Begin Indefinite 'Rail Roko' In Gurdaspur's Batala Today

Frustrated by the failure to meet their demands, farmers in Punjab's Gurdaspur region are slated to stage an indefinite "Rail Roko" morcha at Batala railway station today.

(Representational Image) A meeting was held on Saturday to finalise preparations for the "Rail Roko" agitation, and it was decided to stop trains at Batala railway station until the government met their demands.

Source : Getty

Frustrated by the failure to meet their demands, the farmers of Punjab's Gurdaspur region, united under the Kissan Mazdur Sangarash Committee (KMSC), are planning an indefinite "Rail Roko" morcha at Batala railway station on Sunday (April 2), Times of India reported. 

A meeting was held on Saturday to finalise preparations for the "Rail Roko" agitation, and it was decided to stop trains at Batala railway station until the government met their demands.

Sarwan Singh Pandher, a senior KMSC leader, stated that they had previously begun a "Morcha" at Batala railway station on February 22 and 23, which they had lifted after the government announced that they would accept their demands.

"Unfortunately, the government did not take any concrete measures to meet our demands, nor did it demonstrate any seriousness or keen interest in keeping its words, forcing us to begin indefinite Rail Roko at Batala railway station," he was quoted as saying by TOI. 

One of the major demands of farmers, he said, is to pay full compensation to farmers before acquiring their lands for various purposes.

Another senior farmer, Ranjit Singh Kaler, stated that the issue of pollution caused by poultry farmers had not been resolved and that despite previous assurances from the local administration that the issue would be resolved, no action had been taken against the poultry farm owners, as per the report. 

"We had been demanding that the government forgive the job of one family member of the farmers killed during the farmers' protest in Delhi, but the government has turned a blind eye to this demand," he explained.

Meanwhile, farmers expressed deep concern about crop losses caused by untimely strong winds and rain and demanded relaxation in wheat crop procurement terms, as well as compensation of Rs 200 per quintal and relief amount compensation of Rs 30,000 for less than 75% crop loss and 50% labour to farm labourers, the report said. 

"Farmers are devastated to see their crops flattened, and the government should lend a helping hand to them," he said.

"Because it is a matter of livelihood for farmers and labourers, the government will be held accountable for any inconvenience caused to the general public as a result of our agitation," said another farmer leader, Gurbachan Singh Chabba.