The farmers of Punjab and Haryana are slated to hold a pan-India "rail roko" protest today to press their demands. Addressing the farmers on Sunday, Sarwan Singh Pandher urged them and common people to support their protest.
He also asked people to refrain from undertaking train travel between 12 noon and 4 pm, adding that people might face inconvenience.
"As part of the agitation that started at the Punjab-Haryana border on 13th February, we have called for 'Rail Roko' across the country today. We urge all farmers, labourers and common people of the country to support us in the 'Rail Roko' today in large numbers. We also urge those, who want to undertake train travel between 12 noon-4 pm today, to not do the same for four hours today. People might face a little inconvenience today. This is partial 'Rail Roko'," he said in a video shared by ANI.
Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Saturday urged the Centre not to run away from its responsibility of giving the legal guarantee for MSP on all crops.
Farmers of Punjab, who embarked on the Delhi Chalo march, are staying put at the Shamnu and Khanauri borders due to heavy barricading at the Punjab-Haryana border. Several rounds of talks between farmers and the centre were inconclusive as the unions rejected the government’s proposal of procuring five crops at MSP for a tenure of five years.
Dallewal asserted that the farmers must be given MSP on all crops for their survival under the "C2 plus 50 per cent" formula recommended by the Swaminathan Commission. He also rejected claims that MSP on all crops would involve a huge outlay. He added that the government is importing palm oil worth Rs. 1.38 lakh crore but cannot spend on farmers by giving them MSP on all crops.