The ongoing 'rail roko' demonstration by farmers in Punjab has now entered its third day and is set to continue until 30 September. Demonstrators have gathered on railway tracks to express their shared concerns, which encompass financial assistance after the recent floods, a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), resolution of issues linked to the Delhi agitation, and support for affected families. The Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee initiated this demonstration in Amritsar, with its commencement on 28 September.
Shobhan Chaudhuri, the General Manager of Northern Railway, respectfully acknowledges the ongoing protest and its influence on railway operations. A considerable number of mail express and passenger trains, approximately 90 and 150 respectively, have been subject to necessary alterations. The railway authorities are diligently evaluating the situation.
Multiple demonstrations are currently taking place at 20 different locations in Punjab, such as Faridkot, Samrala, Moga, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, Tarn Taran, Sangrur, Patiala, Ferozepur, Bathinda, and Amritsar.
According to railway officials, the protest has resulted in multiple train services being cancelled, diverted, terminated early, or originating from a different location. In the Ferozepur division alone, there have been reports of 91 cancellations, 48 short-terminations, five short-originations, and 35 diversions. Furthermore, a total of 179 passenger trains and 14 goods trains have been affected by these disruptions.
On Friday, farmers peacefully organized a demonstration on the Chandigarh-Ambala-Delhi national highway, causing temporary traffic disruptions for a duration of seven hours. This initiative, led by farmers associated with the Bharti Kisan Union (Sidhupur), was eventually resolved with the assistance and reassurances provided by district administration authorities. Consequently, traffic diversions were implemented on alternate routes to accommodate the inconvenience caused in both directions of the highway.
A number of farmer groups, such as the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Bharti Kisan Union (Krantikari), Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Azaad), Azaad Kisan Committee (Doaba), Bharti Kisan Union (Behramke), Bharti Kisan Union (Shaheed Bhagat Singh), and the Bharti Kisan Union (Chottu Ram), are actively involved in the demonstration.
Harpal Singh Sangha, the state chief of the Azad Kisan Committee (Doaba), has kindly expressed that the demonstration will persist until Saturday. Should the demands not be met by then, the subsequent course of action will be decided through thoughtful discussions.
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Farmer leader Gurbachan Singh has kindly highlighted the importance of providing a ₹50,000-crore flood relief package for the northern Indian states, along with the implementation of MSP as per the recommendations mentioned in the Swaminathan Commission report.
Demonstrators are kindly advocating for a full waiver of debts for both farmers and labourers. Moreover, they kindly request ₹10 lakh in compensation and a government job for the families of farmers who tragically lost their lives during the agitation against the now-repealed three farm laws.
On 28 September, a significant number of railway passengers, who were travelling to different destinations such as Delhi, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, encountered significant delays and disruptions. A concerned elderly passenger expressed their worry, emphasizing that passengers ought not to be inconvenienced as a result of the ongoing situation between the Centre and the farmers.
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