Ruchika M Khanna
Tribune news service
Chandigarh, October 21
Representatives of Punjab agricultural unions will attend a meeting of agricultural organizations in Delhi on October 27 in an attempt to confront the Center’s new agricultural laws beyond Punjab’s borders. In the meantime, farmers will continue to celebrate dharnas outside the residences of Punjab BJP leaders, as well as at toll plazas, gas stations and retail outlets run by three corporate companies that farmers believe are the intended beneficiaries of the move. of the Center to “corporatize”. farming.
Representatives of 30 unions (in addition to the major BKU Ekta Ugrahan), at a marathon meeting here today, decided to allow the freight trains to run. Farmers will shift their protest from train tracks to train stations. While the passenger trains will stop, the good trains will be allowed to continue.
“We will make sure that no passenger train leaves the station. Since we do not want the economy of Punjab to be affected further, we have decided to allow the movement of freight trains, ”explained Jagmohan Singh, General Secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Dakaunda).
GM Singh, Railways Division Manager, Ambala, said that freight trains would start moving only after they received clearance from the Government Rail Police.
While Punjab’s industry is estimated to have suffered a loss of Rs 40 billion since September 24, when “Rail Roko” was launched, food grain stocks acquired in the past two years must be transported from Punjab to the states. receivers immediately to free up space. on sale for the 170 lakh tonnes of rice to be purchased this season.
Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who had asked farmers to allow the trains to run, today thanked the unions for accepting his request.
Read also:
What’s Bothering State Farmers?
- Who will bear the acquisition cost if the Center terminates the MSP regime? Captain Amarinder had said in the House on Tuesday that the state did not have Rs70,000 crore to buy crops.
- If MSP is made mandatory, several companies can avoid Punjab mandis. Punjab’s high taxes are already a deterrent. So far the purchase of non-basmati wheat and rice by pvt players has been negligible.
No truce, say the leaders
“We are conducting dharnas in 60 locations, including outside the homes of 10 BJP leaders.” Joginder Singh, BKU Ekta Ugrahan
“The passage of the three agricultural bills in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday is our first victory. But misgivings about MSP persist.” Satnam S Sahni, BKU Doaba
“Since we do not want the economy of Punjab to suffer more, we have decided to allow the movement of freight trains.” –Jagmohan Singh, BKU (Dakaunda)
