- By Shivam Shandilya
- Sun, 15 Dec 2024 11:04 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Farmer Protest: Amid the ongoing farmers protest, Sarwan Singh Pandher urged the people to join “rail roko” agitation on December 18. He requested all the people of the 13,000 villages in Punjab who live near railway tracks to block their nearest railway crossing and the railway stations from 12 to 3 p.m.
“I want to appeal to the people of Punjab to participate in the 'Rail Roko' agitating on December 18. We request all the people of all the 13,000 villages in Punjab who live near railway tracks to block their nearest railway crossings and railway stations from 12 to 3 pm,” news agency ANI reported Pandher as saying.
On Sunday, the Punjab Police chief, along with a senior officer in the Union Home Ministry, met farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been staging an indefinite hunger strike since last month, and enquired about his health. Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav and Director in the Ministry of Home Affairs Mayank Mishra met Dallewal at the Khanauri border point and heard his demands.
The 70-year-old Dallewal, who is a cancer patient, has been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border point between Punjab and Haryana since November 26 to press the Centre to accept the agitating farmers' demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP on crops.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Dallewal, Yadav said, "We came here to enquire about his health. I have with me the Government of India's representative Mayank Mishra who was specially sent here."
Mishra said, "We have heard whatever his (Dallewal) demands are."
Pandher said that he has written to Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) to join hands with the farmers protesting at Punjab-Haryana border points over their various demands, including a legal guarantee on the MSP for crops. The statement comes days after SKM leader Rakesh Tikait called for the unity of farmers for a "joint fight" to press the Centre to accept their demands.
Farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo march' and have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces.
A "jatha" (group) of 101 farmers made three attempts to enter Delhi on foot on December 6, December 8, and again on December 14. They were not allowed to proceed by security personnel in Haryana.
(With input from agencies)