Farmer Protest: As part of their ‘Dilli Chalo’ march to Delhi, farmer bodies have called for a statewide four-hour “rail roko” demonstration today to forward their objectives, which include a legal guarantee on a minimum support price for crops. The four-hour protest, which is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. and end at 4 p.m., aims to put pressure on the government to grant their requests.
Background of ‘Rail Roko’ Protest
Train services are expected to be disrupted by the ‘rail roko‘ barricade. “As part of the agitation that started at the Punjab-Haryana border on February 13, we have called for ‘Rail Roko’ across the country today,” farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher told the reporters on Sunday morning. “We urge all farmers, labourers and common people of the country to support us in the ‘rail roko’ today in large numbers,” he said.
In addition, Pandher urged people to postpone their plans to take the train between noon and 4 pm today because they “might face a little inconvenience” as a result of the obstruction. The ‘rail roko’ movement is, he confirmed, a partial one.
Stalled Negotiations Between Farmers and Centre
At least four rounds of negotiations over the requests of the protesting farmers and the Centre have been held thus far without any progress. In addition to a legal guarantee on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, the farmers have asked that agricultural debt be waived, pensions for farmers and farm labourers be included, and electricity rates not be increased.
Extended Protest at Shambhu and Khanauri Border Crossings
Farmers at the Shambhu and Khanauri border crossings between Punjab and Haryana have been camping since the beginning of their ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest march on February 13. The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) (SKM) had called for farmers from all over the nation to come to Delhi, so on March 6, the farmers reopened their bid to enter the nation’s capital.
The appeal to march to Delhi on March 6 was primarily intended to refute the myth that farmers are unable to protest in the absence of tractors and trolleys. However, the Delhi Police refused to let the farmers to enter the city and stage a demonstration at the Jantar Mantar, citing a direction dated February 26. Protesters are not allowed on the property, according to the directive.