Keypoints:
- Intensifying their agitation against the three new agricultural laws, protesting farmer unions announced a four-hour nationwide ‘rail roko’ (railway blockade) on February 18.
- “There will be a ‘rail roko’ across the country from 12 pm to 4 pm on February 18,” the SKM said in the statement.
- A statement also said that toll collection will not be allowed in Rajasthan from February 12.
The protesting farmers are intesifying their agitation against the new farm laws to which they announced on Wednesday a four-hour nationwide ‘rail roko’ (railway blockade) on February 18. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha also said in a statement which is spearheading the protest that toll collection will not be allowed in Rajasthan from February 12.
“There will be a ‘rail roko’ across the country from 12 pm to 4 pm on February 18,” the SKM said in the statement.
To intensify their demand on repealing the three farm laws, the farmers had also observed a three-hour road blockade earlier this month.The protesters have been alleging the laws will weaken the MSP mechanism and end the mandi system.
About the farm laws, the government has said that the new legislations offer more options to farmers to sell their crops, and will help raise their incomes.
“On February 14, a candlelight and torch march shall be undertaken across the country to remember the sacrifice of the martyred soldiers in the Pulwama attack,” read a statement issued by SKM’s Darshan Pal.
“A rail roko programme will be held on February 18 from 12-4 pm across the country,” said Darshan Pal, who is also president of the Krantikari Kisan Union.
In a video released on the Kisan Ekta Morcha’s Facebook page, Vikas Sisar, Haryana president of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, said: “The most important decision that we took at the meeting held today was to remember the Pulwama martyrs for the sake of the departed souls. There will be candle marches at our villages and other places, wherever it is possible, from 7-8 pm on February 14 to show the country that the real malik are the jawans and kisans.”
