Farmers Rail Roko protest sitting on tracks in Shambhu today entered seventh day, as a result railways had to cancel 80 trains and changed routes of another 63 trains on the Ambala-Amritsar railway route. The blockage of rail traffic on these busy routes not only causes heavy inconvenience to the passengers travelling on this route but also huge revenue loss to the railways every day.  

The protestors have been demanding the release of three farmers arrested by the Haryana Police during the ongoing stir. Amid protesting farmers continue to squat on tracks at the Shambhu railway station in Patiala (Punjab) district on the border of Haryana and Punjab although a week has passed as such railways have to refund the amount to passengers already reserved seats in advance. Besides inconveniencing passengers, the cancellation of trains over the last five days was causing financial losses, the officials said, adding, they have diverted many trains. The protest has affected the movement of 380 trains in the last three days, causing inconvenience to passengers.

Under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) in Patiala district’s Shambhu, the farmers have been protesting. While talking to media persons, the farmers leaders said the protest will continue until the three farmers are released. Both SKM (Non-Political) and the KMM are spearheading the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march by farmers seeking the government to accept their demands including legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops. Since February 13, the farmers have been staying put at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana after their march was stopped by the security forces. On 16 April, prominent farmer leader Rakesh Tikait had said that today’s BJP is no more just a political party and it has become a front for rich industrialists who are out to grab farmers’ lands.