Farmers’ Protest Expands with Nationwide Rail Roko Planned for March 10
On Sunday, farm leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal announced that protesting farmers would resume their agitation with a nationwide ‘Rail Roko’ on March 10 from 12 pm to 4 pm. They disclosed this plan during a gathering in Punjab’s Balloh village, the hometown of a farmer who recently passed away during clashes. The farmers, currently stationed at the border points between Punjab and Haryana, intend to embark on a march towards Delhi on March 6, adopting a peaceful approach.
Pandher and Dallewal emphasized that the farmers would escalate their agitation at the existing protest sites until their demands are addressed by the Central government. They urged farmers from distant states, unable to travel via tractor trolleys, to join the movement by train or other means of transportation. They highlighted that this action would also test the government’s stance on allowing farmers without tractor trolleys to enter Delhi.
Moreover, Pandher stressed the importance of Punjab panchayats passing resolutions in support of the farmers’ demands. He criticized the government’s attempts to stifle the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, highlighting the involvement of over 200 farmer outfits nationwide. Dismissing the notion that the agitation might wane with the onset of the Model Code of Conduct for elections, Pandher affirmed the farmers’ unwavering commitment to continue their struggle for rights.
The ongoing protest, initiated on February 13 by more than 200 farmers’ unions, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, aims to pressure the Centre into accepting various demands. These demands include a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP), as well as the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm laborers, and farm debt waiver.
Since the initiation of their protest, farmers have maintained their presence at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana, despite efforts by security forces to disperse them.
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