Farmers resume stir, bring Punjab to halt

Oct 1

Intensifying their agitation against the new agriculture laws, farmers today blocked highways and rail tracks across the state as part of their ‘rail roko’ agitation.

Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, general secretary, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta) claimed farmers blocked roads at 27 locations and rail tracks at Dhablan (Patiala), Sunam (Sangrur), Budhlada (Mansa) Gidderbaha (Muktsar), Dagru (Moga) and several other places. Farmers also staged sit-ins outside toll plazas in Sangrur, Barnala, Moga and Gurdaspur, besides holding dharnas outside fuel pumps and shopping malls belonging to big corporate houses. With farmers proceeding on an indefinite stir, the Ferozepur Railway Division has suspended at least 25 trains in Punjab, J&K and Himachal Pradesh.

Protesters hold a sit-in at a toll plaza near Lehra Bega
village on the Bathinda-Chandigarh highway. Tribune photos
HC seeks Report on blockade removal

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has called for a report on the removal of blockades impeding the flow of traffic on the highways and railway lines following farmers’ protests. The court has also called for steps taken by the state of Punjab and the instructions issued in the matter.

In Bathinda, responding to the call given by 31 farmer unions, farmers protested at toll plazas on the Bathinda-Chandigarh National Highway near Lehra Bega village and on the Bathinda-Amritsar National Highway near Jeeda village.

Farmers protested at a utility store and petrol pumps of Reliance and Essar companies near Bhucho Mandi and Rampura areas. Members of various factions of the BKU and various other farmer unions also blocked tracks on the Bathinda-Delhi railway line and sat on a dharna.

“Our agitation will continue till the Union Government removes our apprehensions regarding the agriculture Acts. It is shocking that the Centre did not even take us into confidence and pushed the legislations through in a haste,” said Shingara Singh Mann, president, BKU (Ugrahan).

In Moga too, farmers and farm labourers blocked a railway track and protested outside a silo owned by Adani Farm Logistics at Dagru village. Another group of farmers staged a protest at the toll plaza on the Moga-Bathinda highway near Singhawala village.

Protesters also staged a dharna outside a petrol pump owned by Reliance Group of Companies at Rajeana village. They urged people to boycott petrol pumps owned by Reliance in support of their cause.

In Fazilka, representatives of seven farmer and labourer unions started their indefinite dharna by pitching a tent on a railway track. Protesters also gheraoed Reliance petrol pump on Fazilka-Ferozepur road near Jalalabad.