Railway officials have reported significant disruptions to train services due to ongoing farmers' protests in Punjab's Patiala district. Specifically, 54 trains on the Ambala-Amritsar route were canceled on Saturday as farmers continued their sit-in protest on the tracks at Shambhu railway station for the fourth consecutive day. The protestors, rallying under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), are demanding the release of three farmers arrested by Haryana Police.
These protests have not only led to the cancellation of 54 trains but have also affected the movement of a total of 380 trains over the past three days, causing inconvenience to passengers. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher has affirmed that the protest will persist until the arrested farmers are released.
The ongoing agitation is part of the broader 'Delhi Chalo' march organized by farmers to advocate for various demands, including a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops. Since February 13, farmers have been stationed at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana after their march to Delhi was halted by security forces.
The steadfastness of these protests underscores the deep-seated concerns among farmers regarding agricultural policies and their determination to secure their rights and interests. As the protests persist, railway authorities and relevant stakeholders continue to grapple with the logistical challenges posed by the disruption of train services, highlighting the complex interplay between social movements and public infrastructure.
