Punjab: Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu’s remarks in which he accused farmer unions of creating disruptions by blocking rail tracks, thereby hampering the process of foodgrain loading, have angered farmer union leaders sitting at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders. Two forums, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM- apolitical), have announced a two-hour rail roko agitation across the country to protest on the third anniversary of the Lakhimpur Kheri incident where eight people, including four farmers and a journalist, were killed in 2021 during a protest against the now-repealed three farm laws.
In an appeal, Sarwan Singh Pandher asked farmers to join in large numbers to register a symbolic response to the Union minister’s remarks. Pandher said rail blockades would be organised at around 35 places in 15 districts of Punjab. These include Batala, Gurdaspur, Patti, Tarn Taran, Tanda, Qila Raipur, Sahnewal, Phillaur, Lohia, Talwandi Bhai, Mallawala, Makhu, Guru Har Sahai, Moga, Patiala, Malout, Sultanpur, Sunam, Ahmedgarh Mandi, Faridkot, Rampura Phul and Pathankot. Apart from three places in Haryana, two in Rajasthan, two in Tamil Nadu and two in Madhya Pradesh, these programs will also be held at three places in UP. Bittu on Tuesday claimed that the transportation of food grains has been disrupted due to the farmers’ protest at the Shambhu border. Bittu said, “Punjab is not connected to any port. Major cargo transportation is by train. Shambhu is a major rail link connecting Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.”
