Farmers in Punjab to launch rail roko protest, trains to halt at 200 locations

Chandigarh: Farmers in Punjab will stage a rail roko protest on Wednesday to support those demonstrating at the Shambhu-Khanauri border on the Punjab-Haryana boundary. Protesters plan to block railway tracks in every district of Punjab, disrupting train services between 12 noon and 3 pm.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher criticized the central government for ignoring the demands of farmers.

He said that Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s fast-unto-death has entered its 22nd day without any response from the government. “The Modi government wants to derail the issues of farmers,” Pandher said.

The protest follows a tractor march held on Monday in Haryana and other states, which Pandher called a success. On December 18, farmers aim to unite across Punjab in solidarity, blocking train services at approximately 200 locations.

Pandher urged supporters to join the agitation in large numbers, stating, “Lakhs of people must come out to support their Punjabi farmers and completely block the trains to shake the roots of the Central Government.” The protest is expected to cause significant inconvenience to commuters across the state.