‘Won't add to country's challenges': Punjab farmers skip plan to block rail tracks amid India-Pakistan tensions
Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee
, Punjab, opted for a peaceful sit-in on a nearby ground instead of disrupting rail traffic in Devidaspur, keeping in view the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
The protest was announced by state president Sukhwinder Singh Sabhra and general secretary Rana Ranbir Singh.
It was initially planned as a rail blockade to oppose the Punjab government's policies and the alleged forceful land acquisition for the Bharatmala Project. "The decision to avoid rail disruption came as the nation grapples with heightened security concerns following
Operation Sindoor
and the closure of the Kartarpur Corridor," said farmer leader Sarvan Singh Pandher, adding that they are fighting for their rights, but they will not add to the country's challenges at this critical time.
Emphasising the farmers' commitment to national interest, another farmer leader, Jarmanjit Singh Bandala, said that the protesters gathered at Devidaspura on May 6 night to condemn the Punjab government, which they accuse of transforming the state into a "police state." He alleged, "For years, the govt has acted on the Centre's orders, deploying police to forcibly acquire land while subjecting resisting farmers, labourers, and women to arrests, lathi charges, and abuse.
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Addressing the gathering, Pandher talked about the recent incidents, including alleged police crackdowns on farmer protests at Shambhu and other borders on March 19-20, and the high-handed response to a planned gherao of the Shambhu police station.
"The police arrested our people from various districts, using brute force to crush our democratic rights," he alleged.
He claimed a brief scuffle with police ensued, but the protesters halted near the tracks, clarifying they had no intention of blocking trains prematurely. In a significant move, they chose to relocate to a nearby ground, ensuring no disruption to rail services.
The farmer leaders also warned, saying, "The govt's use of police to suppress farmer organisations and harass their families must stop. If this continues, we will launch large-scale protests to end this oppression."
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