Farmers in Punjab's Amritsar led by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee have begun their 'rail roko' protest that will continue for the next three days across the state demanding compensation for flood-affected farmers and Minimum Support Price (MSP) guarantee among others. Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee said farmers across the country are united on the issues and warned that more farmers from Haryana will join the protest if anyone tried to 'misbehave with the farmers of Punjab."
A video shared by ANI shows farmers sitting on rail tracks in Devi Dass Pura area in Amritsar.
Sarwan Singh Pandher told ANI, "If anyone tries to misbehave with the farmers of Punjab, then farmers from Haryana will also join Punjab farmers. Farmers are united throughout the country."
"Rail roko will begin across Punjab for three days today. There are many issues including the MSP guarantee, and cases against farmers during Delhi protests not being taken back and other issues...Forget about farmers' income being doubled, our expenses have risen 2-3 times," he added.
He said the the agitation has been called by 18 unions in North India against the central government over various issues. He said, "Home Minister Amit Shah came to Amritsar and he promised to bring MSP guarantee law but the committee has not been formed yet. The cases that had been registered during the Delhi agitation have not been withdrawn. The farmers who lost their lives, and their families have not got the compensation and jobs which was assured. The victims have not got justice in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. We have demanded 50,000 crore as compensation for the floods. The drugs that are being supplied through drones are not being checked at the borders. The protest is against the central government."
Police official Balvir S Ghuman told ANI that massive security has been deployed to deal with the situation as protesting farmers gathered in large numbers at the designated areas.