Farmers stage ‘rail roko’ to protest amendment in Electricity Bill

Following a call given by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) against the proposed Electricity Amendment Bill, the farmers held a 'rail-roko' protest at Dayalpur village near Jandiala here today. The KMM had announced a two-hour protest from 1 pm to 3 pm at the Devidaspura railway crossing, but heavy deployment of Punjab Police prevented farmers from reaching the railway track for nearly an hour. As farmers tried to move towards the tracks, police personnel stopped them. A few groups attempted to reach the spot through adjoining fields but were also blocked at a distance.

Despite this, a group of farmers led by KMM leader Sarwan Singh Pandher managed to reach the tracks near Mehrbanpura crossing on the Nijarpura side and sat on the rail track for the protest. Addressing the gathering, Pandher accused the Punjab Government of attempting to curb the Morcha's call under the Central government's agenda. He said that even though the police made all-out efforts to foil the agitation, farmers succeeded in squatting on railway tracks. There was no major train movement on the track during the demonstration.

Pandher said today's protest had clearly demonstrated public anger against the Electricity Amendment Bill. He demanded that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann immediately pass a resolution in the Assembly opposing the Bill and send it to the Centre. He also urged the Central Government to stop curbing the rights of states. Calling the Bill anti-people and anti-farmer, Pandher appealed to the public to prepare for a larger, intensified agitation in the coming days.

Earlier on Thursday night, several farmer leaders alleged that police conducted late night raids at the residences of union leaders across districts, including Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Ropar and Patiala. Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher stated that a number of farmer leaders were targeted for the 'rail roko'. He claimed that the state government was resorting to pressure tactics instead of addressing concerns raised over the draft Electricity Amendment Bill-2025.

Gurbaxpuri adds from Tarn Taran: Farmers and labourers staged a dharna at two places along the railway track for two hours from 1 pm to 3 pm on Friday and blocked trains.Acting on the instructions of the state government, the police raided the houses of farmer leaders Satnam Singh Manochahal, Sawinder Singh Chutala, Harjinder Singh Shakri, Fateh Singh Piddi and others in the wee hours on Friday to thwart their struggle. but the leaders evaded police action.

The action to block rails in the district was led by Satnam Singh Manochahal, district president of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Punjab. Farmers and labourers participated in the dharnas staged on railway tracks near Gohalwar to block trains on Amritsar-Khemkaran route and on the railway tracks near village Malmohri where trains on Tarn Taran-Beas route. The speakers sought the repeal of the Central Government’s Electricity Act-2025 and compensation for the damage caused by Punjab government to the tractors-trolleys and machinery at Shambhu and Khanauri borders during the farmers’ stir.