Rail roko agitation: Punjab farmer unions postpone 'rail blockade agitation' for three days

Rail roko agitation: The farmer unions in Punjab have postponed their rail roko agitation for three days after the Punjab government appealed to them to not go ahead with the protest. 

The protest had been jointly called by KMM, and five constituent unions of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, besides some other unions.

The agitation was called amid mounting anger over the government’s failure to initiate wheat procurement by relaxing norms, despite significant losses to standing crops.

Farmers had planned a ‘Rail Roko’ protest at 18 locations across the state to protest against the slow purchase of wheat. The delay happened after crops were damaged by untimely rains between late March and early April, along with unusually high temperatures in late February. Reports from Punjab’s mandis show that up to 80% of the wheat has lost its shine, and about 20% of the grains are shrivelled.

Farmers and the state government are asking for relaxed rules for wheat procurement to consider the damaged and shrivelled grains. While such relaxations have already been given in Haryana and Rajasthan, farmers in Punjab are still waiting for similar relief so they can sell their crop.

The unions have reiterated their demand for immediate intervention by the government to address procurement issues and compensate farmers for crop losses, warning that protests could intensify if their concerns remain unaddressed.