Farmers to begin indefinite 'Rail Roko' in Batala from April 2

BATALA (GURDASPUR): Fuming over the non-fulfilment of their demands, the farmers of the region under the umbrella of Kissan Mazdur Sangarash Committee (KMSC) are all set to begin indefinite "Rail Roko" morcha at Batala railway station from April 2.
To finalise the preparations for the "Rail Roko" agitation, a meeting was held on Saturday wherein it was decided to stop trains at Batala railway station until the government meet their demands.
A senior leader of the KMSC Sarwan Singh Pandher informed that earlier they had begun a "Morcha" at Batala railway station on February 22 and 23 which they lifted after the government announced to accept their demands.
"Unfortunately, the government neither took any concrete measures to fulfil our demands nor it showed any seriousness or keen interest in keeping its words which forced us to begin indefinite Rail Roko at Batala railway station," he said.
Beside other demands, one of the major demands of farmers includes paying full compensation to the farmers before acquiring their lands for different purposes, said he.
Another senior farmer leader Ranjit Singh Kaler informed that the issue of pollution caused by the poultry farmers had not been resolved and despite earlier assurances by the local administration to resolve the issue no action had been taken against the poultry farm owners.
"We had been demanding for giving the job to one family member of the farmers killed during farmers protest in Delhi but that the government has turned a blind eye towards this demand," he said.
Meanwhile, the farmers expressed deep concern over the loss of crops due to untimely strong winds and rain and demanded to give relaxation in the procurement terms of wheat crops besides a compensation of Rs 200 per quintal and the relief amount compensation of Rs 30,000 for less than 75% crop loss and 50% labour to the farm labourers.
"Farmers are devastated to see their flattaned crops and government should extend a helping hand towards them" he said.
"Since it is a matter of livelihood of farmers and labourers so the government will be responsible for any inconvenience caused to common people due to our agitation", said another farmer leader Gurbachan Singh Chabba. Eom