UDHO NANGAL (Amritsar): A day after returning from Delhi following their "win" in the agitation against the central government over three farm laws, the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) has announced a statewide rail roko protest from December 20.
While talking to TOI after holding a convention in Udho Nangal in Punjab's Amritsar district on Wednesday, KMSC general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said the farmers were "successful" in making the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre repeal the farm laws.
Yet, he said, there were several other demands which were "equally important" and required to be addressed.
“We want one hundred per cent loan waiver of farmers and labourers, compensation and a job to the next of kin of those who had died during the farm struggle, plus balance payment of sugarcane dues. For the acceptance of these demands, we are going to begin rail roko from December 20,” said Pandher.
He said for now, KMSC would single-handedly begin the agitation across the state and the rail roko would continue till further announcement.
Another leader of KMSC Ranjit Singh Kalerbala said that during the convention, they contemplated the protest modalities, saying their demands also include old-age pension and affordable food grains for all.
Pandher claimed that a large number of farm women had confirmed their participation in the rail roko programme.
“We will begin the agitation from Punjab which could further spread to other states,” he said.
Zorawar Singh, a local farmer, added, “We are not fond of sitting on rail tracks in chilling winters but the government forces us to take such steps."
He said farmers had to sit on roads on the multiple borders of Delhi and only then did the government accept their demands.
“Why did the government not consider farmers' issues and not resolve them earlier? That would have saved them a lot of trouble, but we are ready for the next phase,” he said.
