Rail roko' agitation passed off without any untoward incident. There was negligible or minimal impact on running of the trains across the country. Train movement in all zones is normal now. Few trains were stopped in some areas but now train operation is normal: Indian Railways
Rail Roko Protest Live: Farmers sit on tracks in Punjab, Haryana; officials stop trains at stations
Farmers stir
22:33 February 18
16:42 February 18
We will take our tractors to West Bengal, warns Rakesh Tikait
Rakesh Tikait
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday said the protesting farmers will take the agitation to poll-bound West Bengal if the Centre does not concur with their demands against the new farm laws.
Addressing a maha panchayat at Kharak Punia in Haryana, Tikait said, "Crop prices are not increased, but fuel prices have gone up. If Centre ruins the situation, we will take our tractors to West Bengal as well. Farmers have not been getting minimum support price (MSP) there also."
"The Centre should not be under any misconception that farmers will go back for crop harvesting. If they insisted (cracking down the protest), then we will burn our crops. They should not think that protest will end in two months. We will harvest as well as protest," added Tikait.
16:30 February 18
No trains arrive in Narela post noon, cops guard station
The Narela railway station in Delhi was witness to an unusual sight on Thursday -- hundred-odd police personnel and about 20 people dotted its platforms but none was expecting a train anytime soon.
With farmers blocking tracks in different parts of Punjab and Haryana as part of their "rail roko" agitation against the Centre's three farm laws, no train arrived at the Narela station post noon.
According to a senior police officer, the trains scheduled to arrive at Narela were stopped by the protesting farmers in Haryana's Sonepat.
"Jhelum Express passed the station in the morning, and no train arrived after that," the police officer said. He added that approximately 100 personnel drawn from the local police and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have been deployed at the railway station to respond to any eventuality during the agitation.
Station Superintendent H S Tyagi said, "One train coming from Bathinda (in Punjab) that was scheduled to arrive here at 11:30 hours has been stopped somewhere before Sonepat, and other trains coming from Kurukshetra, Panipat and Ambala, will be affected. Things are expected to go back to normal after 4 pm when the farmers call off their rail roko event."
He, however, said the "rail roko" has not affected passenger movement at Narela and the number of people arriving and departing the station was more or less similar. The Delhi Police on Thursday tightened security in several parts of the national capital, especially near railway tracks, in view of the "rail roko" (rail blockade) called by the farmer groups protesting against the Centre's new agri laws.
16:30 February 18
Members of BKU shower petals on police personnel during 'Rail Roko' in Modinagar
'Rail Roko' in Modinagar
Members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) showered flower petals on police personnel and distributed sweets during the 'Rail Roko' protests in Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh.
15:18 February 18
Near Atoha village in Palwal, the farmers' 'rail roko' programme culminates peacefully as protesters vacate the railway track and begin moving back to their protest site.
15:13 February 18
'Rail roko' agitation in UP peaceful, no law and order situation reported, says police
Prashant Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Law and Order UP Police
The rail roko agitation by farmers was peaceful in Uttar Pradesh, said Prashant Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Law and Order UP Police.
"Kisan Andolan' in UP peaceful so far. Neither any law & order situation have been reported nor 'rail roko' agitation anywhere till 11 am. We're ensuring that no anti-social elements in the garb of farmers ruin peaceful protest. Police instructed to take strict action against them," Kumar told.
Meanwhile many incidents of protesters blocking trains are reported from several parts of the country. In Palwal of Haryana, Jammu's Channi Himat area, and Fatehpur Sahib of Punjab - protesters were seen on railway tracks protesting against the new farm laws.
Railways have deployed 20 additional companies of the Railway Protection Special Force in view of the protest.
The farmers union had said the rail roko agitation will be done in a peaceful manner and food with refreshments will be provided to people stranded due to the protest. After the tractor rally and 'chakka jaam', 'rail roko' is the next major protest by the farmers against the three farm laws.
15:10 February 18
'Rail Roko' protests staged at over 50 sites across Punjab
'Rail Roko' protests were staged at sites across the state of Punjab on Thursday, as farmers gathered at railway stations and blocked train tracks to protest against the Centre's farm laws. The protest is set to end at 4 PM.
15:02 February 18
BKU's Rakesh Tikait in Kharak Punia, Haryana
The centre should not be under any misconception that farmers will go back for crop harvesting. If they insisted, then we will burn our crops. They shouldn't think that protest will end in 2 months. We'll harvest as well as protest: BKU's Rakesh Tikait in Kharak Punia, Haryana
14:55 February 18
Tikait joins farmers' 'Rail Roko' protest
Farmers protesting against the Centre’s three contentious farm laws have gathered at railway stations across the country and blocked train tracks as part of a four-hour nationwide ‘rail roko’ protest, in an attempt to pressurise the government to repeal the new agriculture laws.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait joined Farmers’ ‘Rail Roko’ Protest and said that the blockade of trains as part of protests against farm laws, will be done in a peaceful manner and food and refreshments provided to people stranded due to the protest.
14:55 February 18
Protesting farmers sit on tracks in Punjab, Haryana; officials stop trains at stations
Farmers on Thursday sat on railway tracks at many places in Punjab and Haryana as part of the 'rail roko' protest against the Centre's new agri laws, with officials stopping trains at stations as a precautionary measure.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions which is spearheading the protest, last week had announced the nationwide rail blockade to press for its demand to repeal the legislations and had said that the agitation will be from 12 pm to 4 pm.
There were reports that farmers at Kurukshetra in Haryana climbed on the locomotive of the Gita Jayanti Express train, which was stationary at that time. "The train was scheduled to leave from the Kurukshetra station after 3 pm," a railway official in Kurukshetra said. In Punjab, protesters sat on tracks at many places on the Delhi-Ludhiana-Amritsar railway route, officials said. Farmers blocked the Jalandhar Cantt-Jammu railway track in Jalandhar and in Mohali district also farmers blocked a rail track, they said.
14:16 February 18
Security beefed up at Rae Bareli railway station
Security has been beefed up at Rae Bareli railway station ahead of Rail Roko Andolan. City Magistrate Yugraj Singh took stock of the security arrangements of the station along with heavy police force and GRP.
14:03 February 18
Farmers block railway tracks in Karnal
Farmers block railway tracks in Karnal, Haryana as a part of their nationwide 'rail roko' agitation against Farm Laws
13:51 February 18
Farmers block railway tracks in Ambala
Farmers block railway tracks in Ambala, Haryana as a part of their nationwide 'rail roko' agitation against Farm Laws
13:37 February 18
Rail Roko in Modinagar, UP
Farmers block railway tracks in Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh as a part of their nationwide 'rail roko' agitation against Farm Laws
13:30 February 18
Rail Roko in Jaipur
Farmers block railway tracks in Jaipur, Rajasthan as a part of their nationwide 'rail roko' agitation against Farm Laws
13:03 February 18
Rail Roko in Amritsar
Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee hold Rail Roko Andolan in Amritsar
12:57 February 18
Rail Roko in Palwal
Farmers block railway tracks in Palwal, Haryana as a part of their nationwide 'rail roko' agitation against Farm Laws. Security personnel also present.
12:39 February 18
Rail Roko in Jammu
Farmers under the aegis of United-Kissan Front demonstrate at railway track in Jammu's Channi Himat area as part of 4 hour nationwide 'rail roko' agitation against Farm Laws.
12:32 February 18
Entry/exit for Tikri Border, Pandit Shree Ram Sharma, Bahadurgarh City, and Brig. Hoshiar Singh have been closed.
12:26 February 18
Rail Roko In Punjab
Farmers' protesting against three farm laws staged rail roko Andolan in Fatehgarh, Punjab.
11:52 February 18
Rail Roko in Bihar
Bihar: Workers of Jan Adhikar Party (Loktantrik) stage a 'rail roko' agitation at Patna Junction railway station, against Farm Laws.
11:00 February 18
Security increased at Ghaziabad Junction
Security deployed at Ghaziabad Junction in the wake of the 4-hour long nationwide 'rail roko' call by farmers' today.
10:58 February 18
In view of the Rail Roko Andolan, Railways has decided to halt trains at sensitive stops. The trains will also be run late of the scheduled time
10:35 February 18
Rail Roko will be done peacefully
Rail Roko will begin at 12 pm & go on till 3-4 pm. Trains aren't plying anyway. It'll be done peacefully. We'll provide water, milk, lassi & fruits to people who will be found stranded. We will tell them our issues: Rakesh Tikait, Bharatiya Kisan Union on farmers' 'rail roko' call today
Crops are not being sold on MSP. We have got nothing to do with elections. We will talk to the farmers there: Rakesh Tikait, Bharatiya Kisan Union when asked if the farmers' agitation will be extended to West Bengal too
06:18 February 18
Rail Roko Protest Live: 4-hour nationwide 'rail roko' program today
New Delhi: Farmers' organisations will hold a nationwide 'rail roko' program for 4 hours on Thursday as they continue their protest against the central farm laws.
Jagtar Singh Bajwa, spokesperson of the Kisan Andolan Committee, Ghazipur border said they will carry out a peaceful protest during the 'Rail Roko' program on February 18 from 12 noon to 4 pm.
We will offer refreshments to the passengers to avoid inconvenience, he said.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called for a peaceful protest, expecting to get support for the program from across the country.
"Appeal to everyone for a peaceful protest in nationwide 'Rail Roko' program on February 18 from 12 noon to 4 pm," it said.
The SKM demanded that the government should resolve the farmers' issues immediately without any further delay.
"Samyukt Kisan Morcha took note of the high-level meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of JP Nadda with elected party leaders and others from Haryana, UP, Punjab and Rajasthan, along with Cabinet and other Ministers like Amit Shah, Narendra Singh Tomar, Sanjeev Baliyan and others," read a release by Darshan Pal of the SKM.
"It is clear that instead of resolving the ongoing struggle's demands, BJP is trying its best to counter and destroy it. SKM condemns this attitude of the ruling party and demands that the government resolve the farmers' issues immediately without any further delay. SKM vows that it will intensify the struggle and mobilise more farmers in its support," it said.
The SKM also condemned an alleged attack by Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) "goons" on a peaceful protest organised by the All India Krishak Khet Majdoor Sangathan in Muzaffarpur on Wednesday.
In view of the protest, Railways has deployed 20 additional companies of the Railway Protection Special Force across the country with a focus on Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
22:33 February 18
Rail roko' agitation passed off without any untoward incident. There was negligible or minimal impact on running of the trains across the country. Train movement in all zones is normal now. Few trains were stopped in some areas but now train operation is normal: Indian Railways
16:42 February 18
We will take our tractors to West Bengal, warns Rakesh Tikait
Rakesh Tikait
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday said the protesting farmers will take the agitation to poll-bound West Bengal if the Centre does not concur with their demands against the new farm laws.
Addressing a maha panchayat at Kharak Punia in Haryana, Tikait said, "Crop prices are not increased, but fuel prices have gone up. If Centre ruins the situation, we will take our tractors to West Bengal as well. Farmers have not been getting minimum support price (MSP) there also."
"The Centre should not be under any misconception that farmers will go back for crop harvesting. If they insisted (cracking down the protest), then we will burn our crops. They should not think that protest will end in two months. We will harvest as well as protest," added Tikait.
16:30 February 18
No trains arrive in Narela post noon, cops guard station
The Narela railway station in Delhi was witness to an unusual sight on Thursday -- hundred-odd police personnel and about 20 people dotted its platforms but none was expecting a train anytime soon.
With farmers blocking tracks in different parts of Punjab and Haryana as part of their "rail roko" agitation against the Centre's three farm laws, no train arrived at the Narela station post noon.
According to a senior police officer, the trains scheduled to arrive at Narela were stopped by the protesting farmers in Haryana's Sonepat.
"Jhelum Express passed the station in the morning, and no train arrived after that," the police officer said. He added that approximately 100 personnel drawn from the local police and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have been deployed at the railway station to respond to any eventuality during the agitation.
Station Superintendent H S Tyagi said, "One train coming from Bathinda (in Punjab) that was scheduled to arrive here at 11:30 hours has been stopped somewhere before Sonepat, and other trains coming from Kurukshetra, Panipat and Ambala, will be affected. Things are expected to go back to normal after 4 pm when the farmers call off their rail roko event."
He, however, said the "rail roko" has not affected passenger movement at Narela and the number of people arriving and departing the station was more or less similar. The Delhi Police on Thursday tightened security in several parts of the national capital, especially near railway tracks, in view of the "rail roko" (rail blockade) called by the farmer groups protesting against the Centre's new agri laws.
16:30 February 18
Members of BKU shower petals on police personnel during 'Rail Roko' in Modinagar
'Rail Roko' in Modinagar
Members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) showered flower petals on police personnel and distributed sweets during the 'Rail Roko' protests in Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh.
15:18 February 18
Near Atoha village in Palwal, the farmers' 'rail roko' programme culminates peacefully as protesters vacate the railway track and begin moving back to their protest site.
15:13 February 18
'Rail roko' agitation in UP peaceful, no law and order situation reported, says police
Prashant Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Law and Order UP Police
The rail roko agitation by farmers was peaceful in Uttar Pradesh, said Prashant Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Law and Order UP Police.
"Kisan Andolan' in UP peaceful so far. Neither any law & order situation have been reported nor 'rail roko' agitation anywhere till 11 am. We're ensuring that no anti-social elements in the garb of farmers ruin peaceful protest. Police instructed to take strict action against them," Kumar told.
Meanwhile many incidents of protesters blocking trains are reported from several parts of the country. In Palwal of Haryana, Jammu's Channi Himat area, and Fatehpur Sahib of Punjab - protesters were seen on railway tracks protesting against the new farm laws.
Railways have deployed 20 additional companies of the Railway Protection Special Force in view of the protest.
The farmers union had said the rail roko agitation will be done in a peaceful manner and food with refreshments will be provided to people stranded due to the protest. After the tractor rally and 'chakka jaam', 'rail roko' is the next major protest by the farmers against the three farm laws.
15:10 February 18
'Rail Roko' protests staged at over 50 sites across Punjab
'Rail Roko' protests were staged at sites across the state of Punjab on Thursday, as farmers gathered at railway stations and blocked train tracks to protest against the Centre's farm laws. The protest is set to end at 4 PM.
15:02 February 18
BKU's Rakesh Tikait in Kharak Punia, Haryana
The centre should not be under any misconception that farmers will go back for crop harvesting. If they insisted, then we will burn our crops. They shouldn't think that protest will end in 2 months. We'll harvest as well as protest: BKU's Rakesh Tikait in Kharak Punia, Haryana
14:55 February 18
Tikait joins farmers' 'Rail Roko' protest
Farmers protesting against the Centre’s three contentious farm laws have gathered at railway stations across the country and blocked train tracks as part of a four-hour nationwide ‘rail roko’ protest, in an attempt to pressurise the government to repeal the new agriculture laws.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait joined Farmers’ ‘Rail Roko’ Protest and said that the blockade of trains as part of protests against farm laws, will be done in a peaceful manner and food and refreshments provided to people stranded due to the protest.
14:55 February 18
Protesting farmers sit on tracks in Punjab, Haryana; officials stop trains at stations
Farmers on Thursday sat on railway tracks at many places in Punjab and Haryana as part of the 'rail roko' protest against the Centre's new agri laws, with officials stopping trains at stations as a precautionary measure.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions which is spearheading the protest, last week had announced the nationwide rail blockade to press for its demand to repeal the legislations and had said that the agitation will be from 12 pm to 4 pm.
There were reports that farmers at Kurukshetra in Haryana climbed on the locomotive of the Gita Jayanti Express train, which was stationary at that time. "The train was scheduled to leave from the Kurukshetra station after 3 pm," a railway official in Kurukshetra said. In Punjab, protesters sat on tracks at many places on the Delhi-Ludhiana-Amritsar railway route, officials said. Farmers blocked the Jalandhar Cantt-Jammu railway track in Jalandhar and in Mohali district also farmers blocked a rail track, they said.
14:16 February 18
Security beefed up at Rae Bareli railway station
Security has been beefed up at Rae Bareli railway station ahead of Rail Roko Andolan. City Magistrate Yugraj Singh took stock of the security arrangements of the station along with heavy police force and GRP.
14:03 February 18
Farmers block railway tracks in Karnal
Farmers block railway tracks in Karnal, Haryana as a part of their nationwide 'rail roko' agitation against Farm Laws
13:51 February 18
Farmers block railway tracks in Ambala
Farmers block railway tracks in Ambala, Haryana as a part of their nationwide 'rail roko' agitation against Farm Laws
13:37 February 18
Rail Roko in Modinagar, UP
Farmers block railway tracks in Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh as a part of their nationwide 'rail roko' agitation against Farm Laws
13:30 February 18
Rail Roko in Jaipur
Farmers block railway tracks in Jaipur, Rajasthan as a part of their nationwide 'rail roko' agitation against Farm Laws
13:03 February 18
Rail Roko in Amritsar
Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee hold Rail Roko Andolan in Amritsar
12:57 February 18
Rail Roko in Palwal
Farmers block railway tracks in Palwal, Haryana as a part of their nationwide 'rail roko' agitation against Farm Laws. Security personnel also present.
12:39 February 18
Rail Roko in Jammu
Farmers under the aegis of United-Kissan Front demonstrate at railway track in Jammu's Channi Himat area as part of 4 hour nationwide 'rail roko' agitation against Farm Laws.
12:32 February 18
Entry/exit for Tikri Border, Pandit Shree Ram Sharma, Bahadurgarh City, and Brig. Hoshiar Singh have been closed.
12:26 February 18
Rail Roko In Punjab
Farmers' protesting against three farm laws staged rail roko Andolan in Fatehgarh, Punjab.
11:52 February 18
Rail Roko in Bihar
Bihar: Workers of Jan Adhikar Party (Loktantrik) stage a 'rail roko' agitation at Patna Junction railway station, against Farm Laws.
11:00 February 18
Security increased at Ghaziabad Junction
Security deployed at Ghaziabad Junction in the wake of the 4-hour long nationwide 'rail roko' call by farmers' today.
10:58 February 18
In view of the Rail Roko Andolan, Railways has decided to halt trains at sensitive stops. The trains will also be run late of the scheduled time
10:35 February 18
Rail Roko will be done peacefully
Rail Roko will begin at 12 pm & go on till 3-4 pm. Trains aren't plying anyway. It'll be done peacefully. We'll provide water, milk, lassi & fruits to people who will be found stranded. We will tell them our issues: Rakesh Tikait, Bharatiya Kisan Union on farmers' 'rail roko' call today
Crops are not being sold on MSP. We have got nothing to do with elections. We will talk to the farmers there: Rakesh Tikait, Bharatiya Kisan Union when asked if the farmers' agitation will be extended to West Bengal too
06:18 February 18
Rail Roko Protest Live: 4-hour nationwide 'rail roko' program today
New Delhi: Farmers' organisations will hold a nationwide 'rail roko' program for 4 hours on Thursday as they continue their protest against the central farm laws.
Jagtar Singh Bajwa, spokesperson of the Kisan Andolan Committee, Ghazipur border said they will carry out a peaceful protest during the 'Rail Roko' program on February 18 from 12 noon to 4 pm.
We will offer refreshments to the passengers to avoid inconvenience, he said.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called for a peaceful protest, expecting to get support for the program from across the country.
"Appeal to everyone for a peaceful protest in nationwide 'Rail Roko' program on February 18 from 12 noon to 4 pm," it said.
The SKM demanded that the government should resolve the farmers' issues immediately without any further delay.
"Samyukt Kisan Morcha took note of the high-level meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of JP Nadda with elected party leaders and others from Haryana, UP, Punjab and Rajasthan, along with Cabinet and other Ministers like Amit Shah, Narendra Singh Tomar, Sanjeev Baliyan and others," read a release by Darshan Pal of the SKM.
"It is clear that instead of resolving the ongoing struggle's demands, BJP is trying its best to counter and destroy it. SKM condemns this attitude of the ruling party and demands that the government resolve the farmers' issues immediately without any further delay. SKM vows that it will intensify the struggle and mobilise more farmers in its support," it said.
The SKM also condemned an alleged attack by Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) "goons" on a peaceful protest organised by the All India Krishak Khet Majdoor Sangathan in Muzaffarpur on Wednesday.
In view of the protest, Railways has deployed 20 additional companies of the Railway Protection Special Force across the country with a focus on Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Last Updated : Feb 19, 2021, 6:18 AM IST
TAGGED:
Farmers stir
