Operate goods trains first: Unions to Centre

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 18

First allow goods trains to operate in the state, only then the proposal to resume passenger trains will be considered. This was the main decision taken by 30 farm unions which met here today to discuss the further course of action in the ongoing farmers’ agitation. After deliberating for over five hours, the unions said the Centre must show its good intent by allowing goods trains to operate.

The union leaders said they were under pressure from the industry as well as the state government to stop the agitation on railway property (farmers are no longer on tracks or railway platforms, but protesting on railway parking and other lands) as the Union Railway Ministry and the Railway Board had refused to revoke the suspension of trains. “We would like to tell the industrialists that we are fighting for a just cause, which is directly linked to the state’s economy. The Centre is responsible for keeping train services suspended, not us,” said Rajinder Singh Deepsinghwala of the Kirti Kisan Union, adding that the agitation would continue.

During the marathon meeting today, discussion was also held on last week’s meeting with Central ministers in Delhi. It is learnt that all unions unanimously rejected the suggestion that the three laws would benefit farmers. They criticised the Centre for disallowing them the rally venue in Delhi for an agitation on November 26 and 27, and vowed to make the agitation a grand success.

Ruldu Singh Mansa, president of the Punjab Kisan Union, who chaired the meeting today, said they also discussed the routes that farmers would be taking to reach Delhi as efforts would be made to stop their march to the capital. “All district committees will be meeting on November 21 to chalk out their plan,” he said, adding they would lay siege to Delhi from all sides.

The union leaders also protested against the closing down of over 4,000 purchase centres for paddy even as the arrivals in mandis remained high. They demanded that all purchase centres be allowed to procure paddy as before.

Rs 22,000-crore loss to industry

• Losses to the industry in the state estimated at Rs 22,000 crore as finished goods are stuck
• Urea stuck in rakes at port cities even as Punjab immediately needs it for the wheat crop
• 35 lakh tonnes of foodgrain procured earlier and meant to be shifted to other states stuck in Punjab