Punjab CM Amarinder Singh has urged the center to help end the blockade of farmers protesting against agricultural laws and said he will meet with Prime Minister Modi and Interior Minister Amit Shah on the issue.
Captain Amarinder Singh urged the central government to show magnanimity and agree to the farmers’ demand to restore cargo services first, according to a report by NDTV.
The supply of basic products such as fertilizers and coal for power plants has been hit by the weeks-long clash between farmers’ unions and the railways. The Railways have refused to resume freight trains, saying they would operate freight and passenger trains or none at all.
Farmers protest against the new agricultural marketing laws enacted in the Center, claiming that they would lead to the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system. The farmers’ body said that the Center has adopted a stubborn attitude towards Punjab, its farmers, traders and workers and we condemn the attitude of the central government.
CM Amarinder Singh said that it was the joint responsibility of the state and central government to help solve the problem resulting from the suspension of train services.
Earlier, a meeting between the leaders of the farmers’ bodies, the Union Minister of Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar, the Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal and the Minister of State for Trade Som Prakash was held in Delhi. The meeting had not been conclusive.
Punjab CM is likely to meet with the farmers’ union in Chandigarh and with PM Modi and Amit Shah also in Delhi. “The continued suspension of the rail movement is hurting not only Punjab but also neighboring states. Even the armed forces in Ladakh and Kashmir have been severely affected as their supplies have been severely affected by the prolonged blockade, ”Amarinder Singh was quoted as saying.
Agricultural leader Ruldu Singh said it has been almost a month since farmers’ unions allowed freight trains to run. He said that once the Center resumes freight trains, farmers’ agencies will hold an emergency meeting to discuss whether to allow passenger trains to operate in the state as well.
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