Farmers unions in Punjab on Saturday allowed all trains to resume starting Monday for 15 days, during which the central government should start talks on its new agricultural laws. If the talks don’t happen in 15 days, then the unrest will resume, the Punjab Department of Information and Public Relations said.
“I had a fruitful meeting with the Kisan unions. Happy to share that as of November 23 at night, the Kisan unions have decided to end the railway blockades for 15 days. I welcome this step as It will restore normalcy to our economy. I urge the central government to resume rail services to Punjab immediately, “Punjab CM Amarinder Singh said on Twitter.
As farmers refuse to allow the movement of passenger trains in the state, Singh on Thursday urged the Center to show magnanimity and not link the restoration of freight services to the movement of passenger trains.
Singh had also urged the Union government to support his government in creating a pleasant environment to end the prolonged agitation of farmers, which had serious repercussions for the state and the nation.
Stalemate continued between protesting farmers and railways over the issue of resuming trains.
The bodies of Punjab farmers had said Wednesday that they would consider allowing passenger trains to run in the state if the Center starts operating freight trains first.
However, the Railways had refused, saying they would operate freight and passenger trains or neither.
The suspension of freight trains has affected the supply of fertilizers for the agricultural sector and coal for thermal power plants, as well as negatively affecting the industry.
Amarinder Singh had said on Thursday that it was the joint responsibility of the state and central governments to provide an enabling environment to resolve the current crisis resulting from the suspension of train services.
Farmers’ bodies were also under pressure from industries which have experienced a loss of approximately ₹30 billion rupees due to the suspension of freight trains in the state.
The interruption of freight trains has also affected the supply of fertilizers for the agricultural sector, coal for thermal power plants and supply of jute bags for the purchase of rice.
Railways said Friday that it has suffered a loss of ₹2,220 crore, including ₹67 million rupees in passenger revenue, due to ongoing protest by farmers in Punjab.
.
