Farmers call nationwide 4-hr rail roko on Feb. 18
Farmers not aiming power change at Centre: Tikait
Days after the “chakka jam”, the protesting farmers’ unions announced on Wednesday a fourhour nationwide “rail roko” on February 18, from 12 noon to 4 pm, to intensify their agitation against the three laws.
The unions also decided to ensure toll-free movement of vehicles on the highways in
Rajasthan from Friday. Samyukta Kisan Morcha leader Darshan Pal said a series of events were planned to intensify the protests, going on at Delhi’s borders for over two months.
BKU leader, now the face of the agitation, said Wednesday the protesters were not aiming for a change of guard at the Centre but a solution to their problems.
Days after “chakka jam”, the protesting farmers’ unions on Wednesday announced a four-hour nationwide “rail roko” (railway blockade) on February 18 to intensify their agitation against the three contentious agricultural laws.
The unions have also decided to make toll free movement of vehicles on highways in Rajasthan from Friday. Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leader Darshan Pal said a series of events have been planned to intensify the agitation which has been going on for over two months at Delhi borders.
The SKM is an umbrella organization of 41 farmers’ unions which has been negotiating with the Centre over the new farm laws. Just a month ago, farmers had stopped toll collection at Hanumangarh, Ganganagar and Bikaner in the state.
The unions have also decided to hold a candle march or “mashal juloos”, accompanied by other activities, on Sunday across the country to remember the sacrifices of martyred soldiers in the Pulwama attack.
On February 16, the farmers will observe the birth anniversary of peasant leader Chhotu Ram. Posters of Chhotu Ram were also seen on the tableaux during the farmers’ tractor rally on January 26.
The unions have 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. Earlier this month, the farmers had observed a three-hour road blockade to press their demand for the repeal of the three laws and a legal guarantee on MSP.
Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, who has now become the face of the agitation, meanwhile, asserted that the protesters were not aiming at any change in power at the Centre but a solution to their problems. “We do not aim to change in power (at the Centre). The government should do its work. We want it to repeal the farm laws and ensure law on MSP.”
Addressing the protesters at Singhu border, Mr Tikait said that the agitation against the farm laws will stretch till the Centre addresses their issues. He said many of their leaders will tour different parts of the country to spread the movement. He also asserted that the unity of the SKM was intact and warned the government not to be in any illusion,
THIS REFERS TO the editorial, “Pay heed to ex-judge’s plea”. Registering of a flurry of FIRs for so-called offences against perpetrators (read dissenters) has become commonplace. This said, it is befuddling on following counts. First, for the common man, registering an FIR is a Herculean task, even if it is for a ghastly crime, such as murder. Second, a mechanism has to be put in place wherein multiple FIRs are automatically bundled together. Doing so is not left at the mercy of the judiciary who have been selective in this regard. In the court’s eyes one is innocent until proven guilty, hence they do deserve undue harrasment. Deepak Singhal
Noida