Protesting Punjab Farmers to lift rail blockade from Nov 23

15:57 November 21

Protesting Punjab Farmers to lift rail blockade from Nov 23

Chandigarh: Protesting farmers in Punjab have reportedly decided to lift their rail blockade from Monday (November 23) to allow goods and passenger trains.

"Farmer unions have announced allowing resumption of all trains from the day after tomorrow for 15 days during which Central Government should open talks. If talks do not happen in 15 days, then agitation will resume," the Information and Public Relations Department of Punjab said.

In a tweet, Raveen Thukral, Media Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, said that the protesting farmers took the decision following an appeal by the Chief Minister at his meeting with Kisan Unions today.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had invited protesting farmers for a meeting in Chandigarh today, a day after seeking the Union government's support to create a "congenial environment" for ending their prolonged agitation against the Centre's new farm laws.

Read:Railways suffers Rs 2,220 cr loss due to Punjab farmers' stir

Farmers had resorted to 'rail roko' agitation and staged sit-ins outside some shopping malls, toll plazas and residences of several BJP leaders.

The suspension of goods trains in Punjab has already affected the supply of fertilisers for the farming sector and coal for thermal plants.

Industry alone has already suffered losses to the tune of Rs 30,000 crore in Punjab, as containers carrying goods have got stuck because of the non-operation of goods trains.

Farmers have expressed apprehension that the new laws will pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporates.

They are demanding that these new laws should be repealed.

Read:Farmers talks with Centre constructive: Punjab CM