Sit-in protests to continue on turn basis away from tracks over deadlock between govt and farmers  

Farmers protest over withdrawal of 3 Agri Farm Acts

Sit-in protests to continue on turn basis away from tracks over deadlock between govt and farmers

Ferozepur, November 8, 2020:  Undeterred by the State government ‘repeated appeals to call back their ‘rail roko’ agitation citing shortage of coal in its thermal plants, among other things,  the farmers unions have decided to continue with their sit-in protests, on turn basis, at the railway parking, by clearing the tracks and platforms to run the goods trains only and for the time being the deadlock between government and farmers’ bodies continue over the decision on anti-farmers Acts and running of passenger and goods trains simultaneously.  In turn, today, Bharti Kisan Union (Qadian) led by Gurwinder Singh Khara members along with family members were sitting on dharna in protest against the three Farm Acts demanding its withdrawal.

Earlier the dharna was by Farmers Sangharsh Committee Punjab followed by Bharti Kissan Union(Lakhowal) and BKU(Qadian) to put pressure on the government to take a concrete decision on the three anti-farmers’ Acts.

The farmers had been protesting for the last more than one month by sitting on dharna on railway tracks.  On mutual understanding, to ease the transportation of essential commodities, the goods trains were allowed to ply, for some time and the dharna was shifted from tracks to platforms.  But the railway authorities did not agree and wanted the total clearance of tracks and platforms.  On this, the farmers shifted their protest at the railway parking place.

Notably, the Chairman and CEO Railway Board on Friday evening had clearly stated that it is not possible for Railways to discriminate between customers and selectively run certain kinds of freight trains.  He has also requested the State Govt to clear the track and platforms and stations premises for the operation of all trains.

The farmers will again on dharna at the railway tracks and platforms in case the passenger train services are also resumed.  The tracks were cleared for running of only goods trains in Punjab, said Amrik Singh, President, Bhartiya Kissan Union (Lakhowal).

So far there is dead lock over the decision on three Farm Acts and withdrawing of agitation by the farmers.  In the meantime all the 30 farmer organizations have made it clear that they won’t respond  to any informal invite for the meeting conveyed on phone or through BJP leaders. They had said that the entre should reveal the name of the person who will represent it and send only those who are authorized to take decisions.

He said that on an understanding between the farmer’s outfits and government, the railway tracks and platforms were cleared for running of goods trains from 140 kms long railway track in Ferozepur district by the farmer protesters.  However, the dharna was shifted to other premises of the railways at the railway station parking.

The farmers have given time to the railways for running of goods trains up to November 20.  Gurwinder Singh Khara, President BKU (Qadian)  said, in case the railways talks about running of passenger trains and no concrete decision is taken by the government to cancel the three Agri Acts, the agitation will again be intensified.

He said, the government and railways had been appealing for clearing of tracks for running of goods trains and all tracks have been cleared and in case the passenger trains are also started, our protest will continue till the anti-farmer Acts are not withdrawn.

Those who were present at today’s dharana were Gurbans Singh Jang, Chief Secretary, Pritam Singh Mehan Singh Wala, District Press Secretary, Gurbachan Singh Killi Block President Jhoke Mohre, Bibi Charanjit Kaur Mudki Istry Kissan Wing District Vice President, Paramjit Singh Wazidpur, Bohar Singh, Suhdev Singh Buttar, Paramjit  Singh Unit President Dod, Gurdiip Singh Didar Singh Bur Pur Sethan Balvir Singh, Avtar Singh, Gurdip Singh Shinder Singh Gurmel Singh Mdki, Gurpreet Singh, Fajinder Singh Charanjit Kaur and others.