Indian farmers call for ‘Rail Roko’ protest as a part of ‘Delhi Chalo’ march

Samyukta Kishan Morcha (SKM), a non-political farmer’s union, and Kishan Mazdoor Morcha have organized a nationwide four-hour long ‘Rail Roko Andolan’ as a part of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march at about sixty places covering Punjab and Haryana on 10th March from 12 pm to 4 pm. SKM-backed farmer bodies- Bharti Kisan Union (Dakaunda Dhaner), Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), Bharti Kisan Union (Malwa), Bharti Kisan Union (Doaba) and Krantikari Kisan Union have also joined the agitation. The Khaps too have participated in the agitation by blocking several sites. Meanwhile, the police have decreed Section 144 in Ambala to maintain law and order.

Demands of the protesting farmers 

Their demands include a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops, execution of recommendations for MSP by the Swaminathan Commission, ensuring pension for farmers and farm laborers, relief in farm debts, no inflation in electricity rates, restoring the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, withdrawing the police cases lodged against the protesting farmers, justice for the victims of Lakhimpur Kheri Violence case in 2021 as well as compensation for the families of the farmers who died while the previous farmers’ protest in 2020-21.

Sites of protest

According to KMM leader Sarwan Singh Pandher, they blocked the railway tracks at various places in Punjab including Devidaspura Railway Station in Amritsar; Gurdaspur Railway Station, Batala Railway Station, Fatehgarh Churian in Gurdaspur; Hoshiarpur Railway Station in Hoshiarpur; Jalandhar Cantonment in Jalandhar; Sambhu Railway Station in Patiala; Mullanpur, Raikot in Ludhiana; Guru-har-sahai in Ferozpur district; Ahmedgarh Railway Station in Malerkotla; Dinanagar Railway Station in Pathankot; a few locations in Bhatinda, Rupnagar and many many more, as well as at places in Haryana including Mohda Railway crossing and Sarsini in Ambala, Manakpur in Panchkula, etc. 

Pandher told the media that their protest would continue till their demands are met and insisted all the common people of the country to join the protest today in large numbers. He also requested the passengers to detain their journey by train as disruptions might take place.

Connections with Delhi Chalo Andolan

The SKM, although not a part of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ call which began on February 13, 2024, by over 200 Farmers’ Unions mainly of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, has offered its support to the protesting farmers at the Khanauri and the Sambhu points between Punjab and Haryana. The farmers began their march towards Delhi on February 13 with rations filled in their trollies to last for months and said that they wouldn’t return until their demands were fulfilled. They were obstructed at the border of Punjab and Haryana with water canons and tear gas. The police also set up nails and concrete blocks to block their vehicles from entering the capital.

Dallewal’s statement

Jagjit Singh Dallewal, farmer leader and President of Bhartiya Kisan Union Ekta Sindhupur, said that the Centre will now realize the strength and unity of the farmers of India. He also added that the government cannot escape from its responsibilities by avoiding their basic demands. On February 18, he rejected the Centre’s offer of undertaking guaranteed procurement of cotton, maize and pulses like tur, urad and masoor at a Minimum Support Price (MSP) by government agencies for five years. He said that it was not in the favour of the farmers.