Agitating Punjab Farmers Agree to Allow Passenger Trains From Monday

Different farmers' organisations in Punjab, protesting the three central farm laws, on Saturday announced to lift their rail blockade for passenger trains from November 23.

The decision to allow passenger trains in the state came after a meeting of representatives of farmer leaders with Chief Minister Amarinder Singh who had invited them for talks here.

"Punjab farmers to completely lift their rail blockade from Monday (November 23) to allow all goods and passenger trains, in response to impassioned appeal by the chief minister at a meeting with Kisan Unions," tweeted Raveen Thukral, media advisor to the Punjab Chief Minister.

Prior to meeting the Chief Minister, ranchers' associations held their own gathering to think the rail barricade issue. 

The ranchers' association, that had turned to ''rail roko'' disturbance from September 24 over the homestead laws, had just consented to permit merchandise trains to run in the state, other than clearing rail



tracks and abandoning stages. In any case, the gridlock between the fighting ranchers and the Railways proceeded over the resumption of trains. 

The ranchers' bodies had kept up that they would consider permitting traveler trains to run in the state if the Center beginnings running products prepares first. Notwithstanding, the Railways had wouldn't continue products trains, saying it would either work both cargo and traveler trains or none.

The Railways has maintained that it needs full guarantee from the state government that no trains will be disrupted and both passenger and freight trains would be allowed to operate.

The farmers' bodies were also under pressure from the industries which have seen a loss of about Rs 30,000 crore because of the suspension of goods trains in the state.

Halting of goods trains has also hit the supplies of fertilizers for the agriculture sector, coal for thermal power plants and supply of gunny bags for paddy procurement.