Farmers Protest Day 3: Trains Stopped, Talks with Government

As tensions escalate at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders in Punjab, several major farmers’ unions have rallied behind the protesting farmers, denouncing what they term as the “condemnable use of violence” against their fellow agrarians. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) and BKU Dakaunda (Dhaner faction) have declared a ‘rail roko’ (stop trains) protest in Punjab on Thursday, February 15, from 12 noon to 4 pm, echoing the ongoing demands for a minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, representing 37 farm unions, has also thrown its weight behind the protests, further amplifying the chorus of dissent against the perceived injustices faced by farmers.

BKU (Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan minced no words in expressing solidarity with the protesting farmers, condemning the police action. “We stand with them in solidarity. To prove it, our supporters will hold rail roko at as many places as we can,” he affirmed.

According to reports, nearly 10 protest sites have been identified for the rail roko protest, with more locations likely to be added. These sites include Rajpura, Sunam (near Shambu and Khanauri borders, respectively), Jethuke village in Bathinda, Moga, Mansa, Malaut, Valla railway crossing in Amritsar, Barnala, Sangrur, and Budhlada. This coordinated action is poised to disrupt railway lines across the state, impacting key routes such as the Amritsar-Jalandhar-Delhi line, the Mansa-Bathinda-Delhi line, and the Ludhiana-Ferozepur line, among others.

Amidst the escalating tensions, three Union ministers are scheduled to meet farmers’ leaders in Chandigarh for the third round of talks. However, previous discussions have failed to yield tangible outcomes, leaving the stalemate unresolved.

Meanwhile, clashes between protesters and security forces continue to escalate at the Punjab-Haryana border, with reports of stone-pelting and tear gas shelling. The situation remains tense as farmers persist in their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, despite facing formidable barriers erected by security forces.

As the standoff intensifies, the voices of dissent grow louder, echoing the steadfast resolve of farmers determined to have their grievances addressed. With rail roko protests set to disrupt transportation networks, the agitation shows no signs of abating, underscoring the deep-rooted discontent among India’s farming community.

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