In a significant escalation of their ongoing protest, farmers across the country have today initiated a four-hour rail blockade, from 12 pm to 4 pm, aiming to pressurise the government into meeting their demands, which chiefly include a legal guarantee for minimum support prices (MSP) on all crops.
This move is part of a series of protests orchestrated by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, marking a countrywide call to action.
The blockade is expected to see farmers occupying railway tracks in numerous locations within Punjab, notably in districts such as Ferozepur, Amritsar, Rupnagar, and Gurdaspur, as detailed by Sarwan Singh Pandher, a leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. Additionally, several prominent farmers' organisations, including the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), Bharti Kisan Union (Dakaunda-Dhaner), and the Krantikari Kisan Union, all affiliates of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, have pledged their participation in today's "rail roko" agitation.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, known for leading the formidable 2020-21 farmers' protests, has also scheduled a 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' in Delhi for Thursday. This event is anticipated to draw participation from over 400 farmers' outfits, highlighting the widespread support for the cause.
In addition to today's railway blockade, the farmers' protest has been marked by ongoing demonstrations at key border points between Punjab and Haryana, notably at Shambhu and Khanauri, where farmers have been stationed since being halted by law enforcement on 13 February. The standoff with security forces saw the use of water cannons and tear gas against the protesting farmers, who had commenced their march towards Delhi with vehicles loaded with provisions, vowing not to retreat until their demands were met. In preparation for the protest, police had laid down barriers, including nails and concrete blocks, to prevent the farmers' entry into Delhi.
Further intensifying their movement, last Wednesday, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha called upon farmers and farm labourers from other states to converge on Delhi, thereby reinforcing their stance against the government.
The farmers' groups have openly rejected the Centre's recent proposal for the procurement of pulses, maize, and cotton at MSP for five years, underlining their broader demands which also encompass a comprehensive farm loan waiver and the implementation of the Swaminathan Committee's recommendations. This ongoing struggle reflects the farmers' determination to secure a viable and sustainable future for agriculture in the UK.
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