‘Farmers’ strike’ in Punjab today, more than 100 trains cancelled.
Ambala:
Farmers of Punjab have called ‘Punjab Bandh’ today. During this period, trains, buses, passenger vehicles and roads will remain closed. Therefore, if you are thinking of going to Punjab today or thinking of traveling in any train which will pass through Punjab, then check once whether your train has been canceled somewhere? Farmers have warned of blocking traffic along with railway tracks in Punjab today. Road and rail traffic will remain halted from 7 am to 4 pm. Due to this, there is news of cancellation of more than 150 trains going to Punjab via Uttar Pradesh, including about 18 express trains running on Ambala-Delhi railway line. Due to the announcement of farmers’ strike, more than 200 trains of Northern Railway will be affected.
Farmers can descend on the railway tracks today. Due to this, it may become difficult for trains coming to Punjab to pass. In such a situation, people coming to Punjab from Delhi, Haryana, UP and surrounding states may have to face a lot of trouble. It is being told that in view of the farmers’ Punjab bandh today, Railways has canceled 18 express trains on the New Delhi-Punjab route. These trains will not depart from New Delhi and Punjab.
These trains will remain canceled
- Today 18 express trains going towards Punjab will be canceled
- Bathinda Express (14508)
- Amrapali Express (15707-15708)
- Intercity Express (12460)
- Unchahar Express (14217)
- Kalka Shatabdi (12011-12012)
- Paschim Express (12925)
- Jan Shatabdi Express (12057-12058)
- Malwa Superfast Express (12919-12920)
- Dadar Express (11057-11058)
- Shan-e-Punjab Express (12497-12498)
- Pathankot Express (22429-22430)
- Saharanpur-Una Himachal Express (04501)
- Ramnagar Chandigarh Express (12527-12528)
- Haridwar-Janshatabdi Express Canceled (12054)
- Kalka-Delhi Express (14332)
- Rishikesh Intercity Express (14815)
- Haridwar-Shri Ganganagar Express (14525)
- BSB CDG Special (04503, Varanasi Junction to Chandigarh)
- Ludhiana-Chheharta Memu Express Special Train (04591)
- Many trains including Sirsa-Ludhiana, Bhiwani-Dhuri, Ludhiana-Churu, Hisar-Ludhiana, Sriganganagar-Rishikesh, Amritsar-Hisar, Rohtak-Hansi have been cancelled.
What are the demands of the farmers of Punjab?
- Guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP): One of the most prominent demands of farmers is legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP). MSP is the minimum price at which the government buys crops from farmers. Farmers believe that with the guarantee of MSP, their income will be assured and they will get fair prices for their crops.
- Withdrawal of agricultural laws: Farmers had opposed the three new agricultural laws brought by the Central Government in 2020. Farmers feared that these laws would drive them out of the markets and they would become victims of exploitation by big corporate houses. Therefore, farmers are demanding withdrawal of these laws.
- Loan waiver: A large section of farmers are in debt. Farmers demand that the government waive their loans.
- Reduction in electricity rates: Farmers need electricity for irrigation. Farmers demand that electricity rates should be reduced so that their farming costs can be reduced.
- Crop Insurance: Farmers’ crops are destroyed due to natural disasters like flood, drought etc. Farmers demand that the government strengthen the crop insurance scheme so that they can get compensation for losses caused by natural disasters.
- Market interference: Farmers believe that big traders and middlemen do not give fair prices to the farmers. Farmers demand that the government should intervene in the market to provide fair prices to the farmers.
‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’ on January 4
The agitating farmers called for ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’ at the Khanauri protest site on January 4 for their various demands. This step has been taken at a time when the Supreme Court has strongly reprimanded the Punjab government for not taking farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been fasting for more than a month, to the hospital. SKM (non-political) leader Kaka Singh Kotra said that 70-year-old farmer Dallewal is on an indefinite fast. His fast entered its 33rd day on Saturday. Kotra told the media at the Khanauri protest site, ‘We will hold a big Kisan Mahapanchayat in Khanauri on January 4, in which farmers from different states will participate.’
Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s fast continues…
While reprimanding the Punjab government on Saturday, the Supreme Court also expressed the possibility that other farmer leaders might not have given permission to take Dallewal to the hospital. Responding to this, Dallewal said in a video message, ‘I am on a fast. Who gave this report in the Supreme Court and who spread this misconception that I have been kept hostage, where did such a thing come to light? Seven lakh farmers of this country have committed suicide due to debt. It is necessary to save the farmers, that is why I am sitting here, I am not under anyone’s pressure. Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar said that Dallewal can also address the Mahapanchayat. Dallewal had earlier said that he will not break his fast until the government accepts the demands of the farmers.
Read this also :- Condition of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal critical, fast unto death still continues
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