Trains derailed, commuters inconvenienced, and toll booths rendered toll-free - that's the scene in Punjab today as farmers erupt in protest against the Haryana Police's forceful action on 'Delhi Chalo' demonstrators.
Responding to the call of farmer unions like BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) and BKU Dakunda (Dhaner), farmers squatted on tracks at multiple locations along the key Delhi-Amritsar route for four hours, starting at noon.
Trains like Shatabdi and Shan-e-Punjab Express headed to Delhi were forced to halt at Ludhiana station due to the sit-in protest. Railway authorities scrambled to reroute other trains via Chandigarh and Lohian Khas, causing disruptions for passengers.
The agitation extended beyond railways, with farmers staging demonstrations at toll plazas across the state.
On Samyukta Kisan Morcha's call, they protested the use of tear gas by Haryana Police on farmers marching towards Delhi on Tuesday.
Their protests pressured toll authorities to waive off fees for commuters, effectively rendering the booths toll-free for several hours.
Farmer leader Harmit Singh Kadian of Bhartiya Kisan Union clarified that the agitation targets the "police action on farmers" seeking to reach Delhi.
Similar protests unfolded in Hoshiarpur, where farmers gathered at toll plazas on the Jalandhar-Pathankot National Highway, raising slogans against both central and state governments and demanding justice for their brethren.
This wave of protests in Punjab is a ripple effect of the ongoing 'Delhi Chalo' movement spearheaded by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. Through these demonstrations, farmers aim to pressure the Centre to address their demands, including a minimum support price (MSP) law for crops and loan waivers.
Earlier on Tuesday, tensions flared when farmers attempting to march towards Delhi were met with tear gas and water cannons by Haryana Police at border points.
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