Ferozepur:Demanding a complete waiver of farm loans and compensation to the kin of those who died during the anti-farm laws stir, farmers blocked railway tracks at various places in Punjab for the second day on Tuesday, affecting the movement of 156 trains. According to Ferozepur division railway officials, 84 trains were cancelled, 47 short-terminated and 25 short-originated.
Farmers under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee launched the agitation on Monday, demanding a complete loan waiver, compensation to the families of those who died during the year-long anti-farm laws stir and withdrawal of the criminal cases slapped against them. They are also demanding a compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre for damaged crops, the release of the pending dues for the sugarcane crop and the abolition of the contract system.
Satnam Singh Pannu, a farmer leader, said they will not lift the "dharna" till the demands are met. "During a meeting on September 28, we were given an assurance by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, but the state government later backed out. Besides the four places where farmers are sitting on a dharna, we will start the protest at three more sites in Punjab from Wednesday," he said. The farmers are presently squatting on railway tracks at different places in Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, Amritsar and Hoshiarpur.