Amritsar: Farmers shout slogans as they block railway tracks during the ongoing 'Rail Roko' protest over the new farm laws, at Devi Dass Pura village in Amritsar, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. (PTI)Farmers’ Rail Roko Protest Live Updates: Farmers protesting against the Centre’s three contentious farm laws have called for a four-hour nationwide ‘rail roko’ protest between noon and 4 PM on Thursday, in an attempt to pressurise the government to repeal the new agriculture laws. The Railways deployed 20 additional companies of RPSF troops across the country ahead of the protest, PTI reported.
“I appeal to everyone to maintain peace. We will be liaisoning with district administrations and will have a control room in place,” Director General, Railway Protection Force, Arun Kumar said, adding that extra security measures are being taken in states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. “We want to persuade them to not cause inconvenience for passengers. We have a four-hour window and we want it (rail roko) to get over peacefully,” Kumar said.
The ‘rail roko’ protest was announced by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella body of farmer unions spearheading the agitations, last week. The railway blockade will be third major demonstration by farmers, following the Republic Day tractor rally and the ‘chakka jam’ on February 6.
Jagtar Singh Bajwa, spokesperson of the Kisan Andolan Committee, Ghazipur border told ANI that the ‘rail roko’ protest will be peaceful, adding that the agitating farmers will do what they can to avoid inconveniencing passengers. “We will carry out a peaceful protest in the nationwide Rail Roko program on February 18, from 12 pm to 4 pm. We`ll offer refreshments to passengers to avoid inconvenience,” he said.
The railways has deployed 20 additional companies of the RPSF across the country, with focus on Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, in the wake of the "rail roko" called on Thursday by farmer groups protesting against the Centre's new agri laws.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions which is spearheading the protest, last week had announced the rail blockade to press for its demand to repeal the legislations.
Director General, Railway Protection Force, Arun Kumar on Wednesday said, "I appeal to everyone to maintain peace.
We will be liaisoning with district administrations and will have a control room in place."
"We will gather intelligence. States such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, and some other areas will be our focus. We have deployed 20 companies of the Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) in these areas," he said.
The railways has deployed 20 additional companies of the RPSF across the country, with focus on Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, in the wake of the "rail roko" called on Thursday by farmer groups protesting against the Centre's new agri laws.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions which is spearheading the protest, last week had announced the rail blockade to press for its demand to repeal the legislations.
Director General, Railway Protection Force, Arun Kumar on Wednesday said, "I appeal to everyone to maintain peace.
We will be liaisoning with district administrations and will have a control room in place."
"We will gather intelligence. States such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, and some other areas will be our focus. We have deployed 20 companies of the Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) in these areas," he said. (PTI)
Karnataka farmers have extended their support to the nationwide call by farmer organisations to hold a 'rail roko' protest on Thursday in solidarity with the protesting farmers in Delhi.
Kurubur Shanthakumar, president of Karnataka Union of farmer organisations said: “The rail roko will be held from 12 am to 3 pm in Karnataka to impress upon the Central government to fulfil the demands of farmers groups.”
Thousands of farmers from Bengaluru, Mysuru,, Hubbuli-Dharwad, Belagavi and other parts of Karnataka will be staging protests at key railway junctions across the state.