Chakka jam today, farmers to gherao houses of BJP leaders

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 4

Thirty farmer bodies, protesting against the Central farm laws, refused to succumb to any pressure today and decided to go ahead with their agitation tomorrow.

Farmers, who have received support from 200 other farm unions associated with the All-India Kisan Sangharsh Committee, will block all national highways between noon to 4 pm tomorrow.

In Punjab, they will block all state and national highways. A meeting of the 30 farmer unions of the state (barring BKU, Ekta Ugrahan and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee) was held today and it was decided that goods trains would be allowed to run till November 20.

Earlier, they had allowed the passage of goods trains in the state till November 4, but the Ministry of Railways decided to suspend the train services.

The unions also decided to gherao businesses owned by corporate houses and residences of BJP leaders in Punjab, said Jagmohan Singh, general secretary, BKU (Dakaunda).

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Punjab Government, including minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Political Adviser to CM Capt Sandeep Sandhu, also met representatives of the 30 unions and BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) today.

Yesterday, they met representatives of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee and tried to explain the effects of the long protest and the resultant suspension of train services to Punjab by the Centre on the state’s economy.

They are learnt to have explained to the unions how the urea, DAP and potash shortage was being created for wheat crop to be sown and how the shortage of gunny bags for storing paddy and the custom milled rice, besides the shortage of coal for the power plants, would hit the state hard.

But the unions have refused to relent.

It has been 35 days since the statewide protests were launched by the farmers. They have now said that they will sit along tracks and railway stations so that the movement of trains is not affected.

But the unions refused to let passenger trains operate till their demands were met. The Railways claims it has suffered a loss of Rs 1,200 crore. Dharnas are continuing at 32 places on the Railways property in the state. As many as 1,350 passenger trains have also been cancelled to date.

200 groups lend support

Farmers, who have received support from 200 other farmer unions associated with the All-India Kisan Sangharsh Committee, will block all national highways between 12 noon to 4 pm on Thursday

Govt delegation meets unions

A delegation of the Punjab Government, including minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Political Adviser to CM Capt Sandeep Sandhu, met representatives of 30 unions along with the BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) on Wednesday

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