CHANDIGARH/FEROZEPUR, Sep 17: Rail services were disrupted across Punjab on Thursday after farmers blocked railway tracks at five locations as part of a protest seeking government action on several demands, including a loan waiver for farmers and farm labourers.
The protest was organised under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), with farmers squatting on railway tracks from noon to 6 pm at Devidaspura in Amritsar, Jhakholhari railway crossing in Pathankot, Dagru in Moga, Mallanwala in Ferozepur and Sunam in Sangrur.
The blockade affected the movement of 20 trains, including the New Delhi-Amritsar Shatabdi Express. According to railway officials, four trains were cancelled, seven diverted, three short-terminated, four short-originated and two rescheduled.
Among the cancelled services were the Beas-Tarn Taran DMU trains (74605 and 74606) and the Ferozepur Cantonment-Jalandhar City services (74936 and 74937).
Several long-distance and passenger trains were diverted because of the disruption. These included the Amritsar-New Jalpaiguri Amrit Bharat Express (14664), Amritsar-Jaynagar Shaheed Express (14674), Amritsar-Ajmer Express (19612), Nangal Dam-Amritsar Express services (14505 and 14506), Jammu Tawi-Bhagat Ki Kothi Express (14804) and the New Delhi-Amritsar Shatabdi Express (12031).
Some trains were also terminated before reaching their scheduled destinations. The Ludhiana-Chhehrata DMU (64551) was short-terminated at Jandiala, while the New Delhi-Amritsar Shan-e-Punjab Express (12497) was terminated at Jalandhar and the Ludhiana-Ferozepur DMU (54051) at Moga.
Four services were short-originated, including the Chhehrata-Ludhiana DMU (64552), Amritsar-New Delhi Shatabdi Express (12032), Amritsar-New Delhi Shan-e-Punjab Express (12498) and Ferozepur-Ludhiana DMU (54052). Two Ferozepur-Jalandhar DMU services (74936 and 74938) were rescheduled.
The disruption affected passengers travelling for work, business, medical appointments, education and other essential purposes. Those whose trains were diverted or terminated before their destinations were required to make alternative travel arrangements, resulting in additional time and expenses.
Kamal Mittal, a resident of the cantonment area who was travelling to Jalandhar for urgent work, said he learnt at the railway station that his train would not operate because of the protest. He said he would have to take a bus to reach his destination.
The blockade was withdrawn after talks between farmer representatives and senior officials, including Inspector General of Police (Border Range) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Dalwinder Singh and other officials.
Following the discussions, it was agreed that representatives of the protesting farmers would meet Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian in Chandigarh on September 24 to discuss their demands.
KMM leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said the farmers had also received assurances regarding financial assistance for families affected by farmer and farm-labourer suicides linked to debt. According to the assurances cited by Pandher, families of farmers who died by suicide would receive Rs 3 lakh each, while families of farm labourers would receive Rs 2 lakh each.
The government also assured the protesters that pending jobs and compensation for families of farmers and labourers who died during earlier agitations would be provided within a month, according to the KMM.
The discussions also covered cases related to stubble burning, police matters and railway related issues. The KMM said assurances were given regarding efforts to resolve these matters.
The deputy commissioner later addressed the protesting farmers at the site and informed them about the outcome of the discussions, according to a statement.
Among the major demands raised by the farmers is a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for five crops basmati, maize, moong, mustard and potatoes. They are also seeking a loan waiver for farmers and farm labourers and withdrawal of the land-pooling policy.
The protesters have further demanded that the Punjab Assembly pass a resolution against the proposed India-US trade agreement. They are seeking the return of vehicles and other belongings allegedly seized from the Shambhu and Khanauri protest sites, along with ownership rights for all categories of farmers and workers cultivating land.
The September 24 meeting is expected to provide an opportunity for the farmer representatives and the state government to discuss these demands in detail.