Protesting farmers, blocked thrice from marching to Delhi, have declared a statewide ‘Rail Roko’ agitation in Punjab on December 18, urging unity among farmer unions.

Protesting farmers, blocked thrice from marching to Delhi, have declared a statewide ‘Rail Roko’ agitation in Punjab on December 18, urging unity among farmer unions. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher urged the residents of Punjab’s 13,000 villages to block railway tracks from 12 to 3 pm. “We appeal to everyone living near railway crossings to join this movement,” Pandher said at a press conference at the Shambhu border in Patiala. Pandher also reached out to Rakesh Tikait-led Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the prominent farmers' group that led last year's protest against the now-repealed farm laws. In a letter, Pandher invited SKM to join the 'Rail Roko' protest, calling for unity despite past differences. “Let’s unite for the welfare of farmers and labourers,” Pandher stated. Previous attempts to enter Delhi stopped Farmers tried to enter Delhi on foot three times—on December 6, 8, and 14. Each time, the police stopped them. On December 14, the police used tear gas, injuring 17 farmers. Despite these obstacles, the farmers are still holding their ground at the Punjab-Haryana border and are determined to continue their protest. Impact of the protest The farmers plan to block important railway routes in Punjab, which is expected to cause major disruption. This is the latest step in their ongoing protest against policies they believe harm their interests. All eyes will be on December 18 to see if the protest gains support and if SKM joins in. (With inputs from agencies)

Protesting farmers announce ‘Rail Roko’ on December 18, call for Rakesh Tikait’s support

New Delhi, India 
<meta charset="utf-8"/>Protesting farmers, blocked thrice from marching to Delhi, have declared a statewide ‘Rail Roko’ agitation in Punjab on December 18, urging unity among farmer unions.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher urged the residents of Punjab’s 13,000 villages to block railway tracks from 12 to 3 pm. “We appeal to everyone living near railway crossings to join this movement,” Pandher said at a press conference at the Shambhu border in Patiala.
Pandher also reached out to Rakesh Tikait-led Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the prominent farmers' group that led last year's protest against the now-repealed farm laws. In a letter, Pandher invited SKM to join the 'Rail Roko' protest, calling for unity despite past differences. “Let’s unite for the welfare of farmers and labourers,” Pandher stated.
<h2 dir="ltr">Previous attempts to enter Delhi stopped</h2>
Farmers tried to enter Delhi on foot three times—on December 6, 8, and 14. Each time, the police stopped them. On December 14, the police used tear gas, injuring 17 farmers. Despite these obstacles, the farmers are still holding their ground at the Punjab-Haryana border and are determined to continue their protest.
<h2 dir="ltr">Impact of the protest</h2>
The farmers plan to block important railway routes in Punjab, which is expected to cause major disruption. This is the latest step in their ongoing protest against policies they believe harm their interests.
All eyes will be on December 18 to see if the protest gains support and if SKM joins in.
(With inputs from agencies)

Pandher also contacted the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), led by Rakesh Tikait, the well-known farmers' group that led last year's protest against the farm laws that were later repealed. 



New Delhi, India Protesting farmers, blocked thrice from marching to Delhi, have declared a statewide ‘Rail Roko’ agitation in Punjab on December 18, urging unity among farmer unions. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher urged the residents of Punjab’s 13,000 villages to block railway tracks from 12 to 3 pm. “We appeal to everyone living near railway crossings to join this movement,” Pandher said at a press conference at the Shambhu border in Patiala. Pandher also reached out to Rakesh Tikait-led Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the prominent farmers' group that led last year's protest against the now-repealed farm laws. In a letter, Pandher invited SKM to join the 'Rail Roko' protest, calling for unity despite past differences. “Let’s unite for the welfare of farmers and labourers,” Pandher stated. Previous attempts to enter Delhi stopped Farmers tried to enter Delhi on foot three times—on December 6, 8, and 14. Each time, the police stopped them. On December 14, the police used tear gas, injuring 17 farmers. Despite these obstacles, the farmers are still holding their ground at the Punjab-Haryana border and are determined to continue their protest. Impact of the protest The farmers plan to block important railway routes in Punjab, which is expected to cause major disruption. This is the latest step in their ongoing protest against policies they believe harm their interests. All eyes will be on December 18 to see if the protest gains support and if SKM joins in. (With inputs from agencies)

As thousands of farmers tried to enter the national capital in a massive protest march, the government Tuesday announced that a committee of chief ministers will look into their demands, even as the protesters stayed put saying they were not "satisfied" with the assurance.

After meeting the protesting farmers at the Delhi-UP border, Union minister of state for agriculture Rajendra Singh Shekhawat said the government was assuring the farmers to take forward their cause.

"I assure you all this. We will move court over the NGT order (to ban tractor and vehicles which are more than 10 years old)," he said.

On another problem faced by the farmers about farm labour, the minister said the government would look at bringing in some changes to the minimum wage rules for rural areas to solve this problem.

"The government has formed a committee of six chief ministers to look into this issue of labour for farm. The committee is in talks to connect MNREGA with agriculture,"&nbsp;Shekhawat added.

"On behalf of (Union Home Minister) Rajnath Singh, I assure you that I will represent the farmers' interests in this committee and whatever changes would be required to link MNREGA with agriculture will be made," Shekhawat told the farmers.

The protesting farmers, however, decided to stay put at the Delhi border, where they have been stopped by the police from entering the national capital.

Naresh Tikait, the chief of Bharat Kisan Union (BKU), which has given the protest call, said the farmers are "not satisfied" with the government's assurance.

"We will discuss this and then decide on future course of action. I can't decide anything alone, our committee will take the decision," he added.

The farmers were marching towards Delhi over demands ranging from farm loan waiver to cut in fuel prices, but were stopped at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border with police using water cannons to disperse them.

The farmers, riding tractors and trolleys, broke barricades of the UP Police and then started proceeding towards the barricades put up by the Delhi Police, a senior police officer said.

As thousands of farmers tried to enter the national capital in a massive protest march, the government Tuesday announced that a committee of chief ministers will look into their demands, even as the protesters stayed put saying they were not "satisfied" with the assurance.

As thousands of farmers tried to enter the national capital in a massive protest march, the government Tuesday announced that a committee of chief ministers will look into their demands, even as the protesters stayed put saying they were not "satisfied" with the assurance. After meeting the protesting farmers at the Delhi-UP border, Union minister of state for agriculture Rajendra Singh Shekhawat said the government was assuring the farmers to take forward their cause. "I assure you all this. We will move court over the NGT order (to ban tractor and vehicles which are more than 10 years old)," he said. On another problem faced by the farmers about farm labour, the minister said the government would look at bringing in some changes to the minimum wage rules for rural areas to solve this problem. "The government has formed a committee of six chief ministers to look into this issue of labour for farm. The committee is in talks to connect MNREGA with agriculture," Shekhawat added. "On behalf of (Union Home Minister) Rajnath Singh, I assure you that I will represent the farmers' interests in this committee and whatever changes would be required to link MNREGA with agriculture will be made," Shekhawat told the farmers. The protesting farmers, however, decided to stay put at the Delhi border, where they have been stopped by the police from entering the national capital. Naresh Tikait, the chief of Bharat Kisan Union (BKU), which has given the protest call, said the farmers are "not satisfied" with the government's assurance. "We will discuss this and then decide on future course of action. I can't decide anything alone, our committee will take the decision," he added. The farmers were marching towards Delhi over demands ranging from farm loan waiver to cut in fuel prices, but were stopped at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border with police using water cannons to disperse them. The farmers, riding tractors and trolleys, broke barricades of the UP Police and then started proceeding towards the barricades put up by the Delhi Police, a senior police officer said.

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