Farmers Stop Rail Roko Marking 100 Days of Protest

On 21 May, the farmers protesting on the interstate borders of Panjab and Haryana suspended their 37-day Rail Roko (train blockade). On 22 May farmers marked 100 days of their indefinite protest and will now, in addition to the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, move to the homes of Panjab BJP leaders. While the govt. has not responded to the demand to release the three activists arrested without charges, the train blockade was causing considerable distress in Panjab, especially among the trader class. The Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal gave a 10-day ultimatum to the state govt. asking them to resolve the stalemate. ‘Farmers have been sitting on Shambhu railway station tracks and even on Shambhu and Khanauri borders of Punjab-Haryana since February. This has taken a toll on the business of Panjab’s industry. Commuters are inconvenienced. But the Panjab government is not bothered about the issue at all,’ said Sunil Mehra, general secretary of Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal on 18 May. On 15 May, Panjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar questioned farmers on why AAP was not being blockaded. BJP candidate Hans Raj Hans threatened the farmers saying he will teach them a lesson after 2 Jun when polling is over. Farmers are not blocking or disrupting BJP alone; AAP and SAD are also affected. On 15 May, CM Bhagwant Mann wanted to hold a rally at Zira. Farmers protesting against Malbros Distillery objected and the rally had to be canceled. Sukhbir Badal too faced the farmers’ ire and had to cancel his rally in Bathinda. On 21 May, BJP leader and former Haryana home minister Anil Vij accepted responsibility for the tear gassing and shooting that caused blindness, injuries, and death of protesting farmers (SDW Vol. 2 Issue 8, Story 3).