Chennai: Farm unions have called for a four-hour ‘rail roko’ demonstration across the country today as they continue to agitate against three agricultural laws enacted by the Union government.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella body of 40 farm unions, has called for a peaceful protest between 12 noon and 4 pm, expecting to get support for the programme from across the nation.
Ahead of the protest, the Indian Railways has beefed up the security at all the railway stations across the country — especially in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and West Bengal.
It has deployed 20 additional companies of the Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF). The railways has also urged protesters to maintain peace and ensure that it does not cause inconvenience to the passengers.
“It is clear that instead of resolving the ongoing struggle (on farmers’ demands), the BJP is trying its best to counter and destroy it (movement),” said Darshan Pal, leader of the SKM, ahead of the Morcha’s four-hour nationwide ‘Rail Roko’ (rail blockade) programme.
The SKM has been demanding the repeal of the three central farm laws which were enacted last year to provide choice to farmers to sell their produce outside regulated ‘mandis’ (Agri markets), encourage contract farming under-protected mechanism and remove the stock limit on farm commodities for attracting private investment in the warehouse and cold-chain infrastructure.