Protesting farmers decide to call of rail blockade

Protesting farmers in Punjab today decided to call off their seven-day 'Rail Roko' stir, which has crippled rail services in the state, but said their agitation against the Parkash Singh Badal government would continue in support of their demand for higher compensation.

Instead of blocking tracks, the farmers have now decided to gherao all state ministers, ruling party MLAs, other party leaders at all the district headquarters on October 22.

"We have decided to call off our 'Rail Roko' agitation. We will lift our blockade at different places in the state at 2 PM," BKU Ekta (Dakunda) General Secretary Jagmohan Singh said.

However, he said their agitation against the SAD-BJP led state government would continue for non-acceptance of all of their demands including higher compensation for cotton crop loss.

"Our agitation will continue. We will now change the format of our agitation. We have decided to gherao all the state ministers, ruling party MLAs, other party leaders at all the district headquarters on October 22. We will also show black flags to ministers, ruling party leaders at village level regularly," Singh further said.

Agitating farmers arrived at the decision after holding their core committee meeting which continued till late night at Kisan Bhawan here.

The farmers' agitation, which began on October 7, paralysed rail movement in Punjab as over 1,100 trains were affected because of protest in Ambala and Ferozepur divisions of railways, causing inconvenience to passengers and heavy loss to financial loss to railway authorities.

Railway officials said it will take a minimum of 24 hours to restore normalcy as railway would carry out inspection of tracks where protesting farmers had put up blockades.

The crucial talks between protesting farmers and Badal failed to break the deadlock over peasants' demands yesterday, following which farmers announced to continue with their agitation till today.

"Our meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was a failure despite some positive results (for farmers)," Singh said.

The BKU leader lashed out at Badal for expressing "inability" to raise the quantum of compensation for cotton crop loss and basmati prices.

"During the meeting, Badal told us that state government has nothing to offer. But said our demands are genuine and farmers are in pain. Badal said his government's financial position was worse than the cotton crop which has been extensively damaged by the whitefly attack," Singh said.

"Should such kind of response be given by a CM to protesting farmers," asked Singh.