Punjab farmers' protest on Thursday escalated after protestors sat on dharna on the railway tracks. The Delhi-Jammu National Highway in Jalandhar has been blocked by hundreds of protesting farmers for the past two days. Agitating farmers are seeking an increase in sugarcane prices among their multiple demands from the Government. On Wednesday, the farmers union had warned the Punjab Government that they will be a 'Rail Roko' (Stop Trains) if the government does not accede to their demands. However, no parleys could be reached between the farmers and the Bhagwant Mann government. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann in fact asked the farmers to not cause trouble for the common public and his doors are always open for farmers to discuss these types of topics.
However, it seems like, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's appeal fell to deafening ears as hundreds of protestors disrupted train services after the Jammu-Delhi Highway in Jalandhar. As per reports, farmers have closed the railway track and the National Highway near Dhannowali Gate, some distance from PAP Chowk.
As soon as the railway track was closed, Shatabdi Express was stopped at Phagwara in Kapurthala. The demonstration is taking place near Jalandhar Cantt station. Therefore Amrapali Express will be stopped at Jalandhar City station. As per reports, the movement of 120 trains every 24 hours will be affected on this track.
40 trains had left on Thursday, and now 80 trains are being diverted. Diversion of trains has been done from Jalandhar City station. During this period, trains going to other states via Ludhiana, Ambala, Panipat, and Delhi will depart from Nakodar via Phagwara.
What are the farmers demanding?
Farmers under the banner of Samyukt Kisan Morcha blocked the Jalandhar-Phagwara section of the Jalandhar-New Delhi National Highway near Dhanowali village for an indefinite period. Not only this, the farmer leaders have given an ultimatum that if their demands are not met by Wednesday evening they will start 'Rail Roko Andolan' that will disrupt Railway services.
As per reports, the protesting farmers put up a tent in the middle of the road and spent the night on the highway demanding an increase in the assured prices of sugarcane from Rs 380 per quintal to Rs 450 per quintal.