Thousands of Punjab farmers had blocked railroad tracks and highways to protest against agricultural laws.
Chandigarh:
Punjab farmers who had set up statewide rail blockades to protest the center’s controversial agricultural laws will allow trains (both passenger and freight) to resume service starting Monday night, it was announced after a meeting between farmers’ unions and Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.
The farmers’ unions said they would lift the blockade for a period of 15 days, but warned that it would be re-imposed if talks to address and resolve their problems were not held within that period.
Tweeting shortly after the announcement was made, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said he welcomed the farmers’ decision and called on the center to resume rail services to the state.
“I had a fruitful meeting with kisan unions (of farmers). Happy to share that as of November 23 at night, kisan The unions have decided to end the railway blockade for 15 days. I welcome this step as it will restore normalcy to our economy, “Singh said.
“I urge the central government to resume rail services to Punjab immediately,” he added.
The Chief Minister is likely to meet next week with Union Interior Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to push for the resumption of rail services in his state.
I had a fruitful meeting with Kisan Unions. Happy to share that as of November 23 at night, Kisan Unions has decided to end the rail 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. pic.twitter.com/shmIZPHFR0
– Captain Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) November 21, 2020
On Wednesday, farmers had decided not to lift the blockade on passenger trains, insisting that the center must first allow freight trains, which farmers said they had allowed nearly a month ago, to resume operations. The Railways, however, cited safety concerns and declined to do so, saying they would operate passenger and freight trains or none at all.
The farmers’ decision was criticized by the chief minister, Amarinder Singh, who is widely seen as a supporter of their position. The Chief Minister noted that the continued blockade by farmers of passenger (and consequently freight) trains was affecting the state economy.
“They must realize that things cannot continue like this … if rail transport continues to be suspended any longer, the state (will sink) into an irreversible crisis,” Singh had said.
According to the PTI news agency, the blockade has caused losses in the state economy of 22 billion rupees. Meanwhile, the railways have suffered an estimated loss of 1,200 million rupees.
Last week, representatives of the farmers’ unions met with Union Minister Piyush Goyal (Railways) and Narendra Singh Tomar (Agriculture) in Delhi and presented a long list of demands, which included the immediate withdrawal or repeal of the laws. agricultural.
The set of three farm laws, passed by parliament in early September after shocking and chaotic scenes in both houses, was met with protests across the country.
Aside from fears that the laws will remove the MSP (minimum support price, a source of credit in tough times like droughts and poor harvests), critics say small and marginal farmers will be left at the mercy of businesses.
The government says that by removing barriers to interstate and intrastate trade in agricultural and agricultural products, it is empowering farmers to sell their products at the markets and prices of their choice.
Last month, Punjab became the first state to formally reject and counter agricultural laws; the Assembly passed three bills, each of which is designed to counter one of the laws of the center.
With input from PTI
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