‘Rail roko’ protest on April 27-28
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, April 22
A coordination committee of various farmer and labour organisations from Majha region today held a meeting here and decided to organise a “rail roko” agitation on April 27 and 28 to highlight their demands for compensation for crop loss due to unseasonal rain and relaxation in procurement norms.
As per a release issued here, the meeting, chaired by Kirti Kisan Union leader Dhanwant Singh Khatrai Kalan, decided to disrupt rail traffic for two days. The farmer leaders decided that thousands of workers would squat on railway tracks across the region.
They said they would also resort to road blockade in the area where wheat was not being procured. They sought relaxation in norms for wheat procurement stating that discoloured or shriveled grain should also be procured at the normal rate.
They demanded a compensation of Rs 35,000 per acre for the farmers whose crop has suffered more than 50 per cent damage. Besides, they also sought Rs 500 per quintal bonus to compensate for a drop in yield due to unseasonal rain. They voiced their opinion against the Land Acquisition Bill and sought its withdrawal.
