Don't cause rail disruption, Akali Dal appeals to farmers

The Shiromani Akali Dal today appealed to the farmers not to cause "disruption and chaos", as some peasant's outfits announced blocking rail traffic on October 7 and 8 at several places in the state to protest against "anti-farmer" policies of the SAD-BJP government.
"The rail roko (stop train) movement will only lead to disruption and chaos and could lead to a law and order problem which is not in the interest of Punjabis. The people of the state want development and should shun such elements who want to create social turmoil," SAD MPs Prem Singh Chandumajra and Balwinder Singh Bhundur said in a statement here.

The MPs also cautioned the people to understand the "conspiracy" which was afoot to "destabilise" the hard-won peace in Punjab.
Earlier today, eight farmers' organisations, including BKU Ekta (Dakunda), BKU Ekta (Ugrahan), BKU (Krantikari), Kirti Kisan Union announced that will disrupt train movements for two days in the state as part of their plan to intensify agitation seeking compensation for damaged crops.
Farmer organisations were "misleading" people about the actions taken by state government following the whitefly attack on the cotton crop in Punjab, which was paying "the most compensation" vis a vis any other state in the country for crop damage. Against the rate of Rs 8,000 per acre announced by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the erstwhile Congress government had given a compensation of only Rs 3,000 per acre for crop damage, the statement said.

"Never before has a compensation package of Rs 643 crore been released for crop damage," it added.