Indian protesting farmers stop trains |
Farmers who have been protesting against the 3 new farm laws in India have added a new twist to their agitation by organizing a `rail blockade` protest on 18th February across the country from 12 noon to 4 pm. Indian Railways has tightened security and deployed additional forces across Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The Railway Protection Force has deployed 20 additional companies across the four states. Farmer groups have called for a Rail Roko agitation on 18th February in a bid to amplify their protest against the three contentious laws. Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a united front of farmers` unions, is spearheading the agitation. An earlier similar call in September 2020 in Punjab had resulted in complete suspension of trains in the state for nearly two months. The Railway Ministry had also informed Parliament that it suffered losses of 201 million US Dollars in FY 2020-21 due to various agitations or strikes and demonstrations at platforms and near tracks. Farmers have also stopped paying toll across Punjab and Haryana and Delhi NCR since December 2020.
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