Rail roko: Farmers’ agitation continues, commuters in lurch

Bathinda, October 11

As many as eight farmer unions are protesting on railway lines that has left as many as 76 trains suspended from Bathinda and about 20 trains from Mansa everyday leaving the commuters at dead end.

The protest on railway lines began on October 7. But the government delayed to invite farmers for talks and now the meeting would be held with Chief Minister on October 12. The farmers are demanding a compensation of Rs 40,000 per acre crop for the farmers of cotton belt cotton-belt of Punjab faced a mass destruction of cotton crop due to ineffective pesticides supplied to them by state government on subsidy. The farmers alleged that pesticide scam that amounts in crores had ruin the farming community as complete cotton crop in the region was destroyed by whitefly attack.

Jasvir Singh, BKU Leader from Bathinda said, “We had to extend our protest till October 12 as the government had delayed to invite us for talks. Earlier, too, the CM had sent its officials with whom talks were failed. The government not only failed to meet our demands rather it had failed to hear our demands. Now, the CM Prakash Singh Badal would meet our leaders on October 12. We hope our demands that are genuine would be met.”

It’s noteworthy that the passengers have been left in lurch completely with all the 76 trains from Bathinda junction suspended. — TNS