Railway authorities have highlighted the significant impact of the ongoing protests by farmers on the Ambala-Amritsar route, particularly at the Shambhu railway station in Punjab's Patiala district. As the demonstrations entered their fifth consecutive day, the situation resulted in the cancellation of 73 trains on Sunday alone.
The primary demand of the protestors revolves around the release of three farmers who were apprehended by the Haryana Police amidst the ongoing agitation. Consequently, railway officials reported the cancellation of a substantial number of trains, leading to both financial losses and considerable inconvenience for passengers over the past five days. Additionally, the protests prompted the diversion of several train routes, further exacerbating the disruption to railway services.
Under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), farmers have converged at the Shambhu railway station in Patiala district, initiating their protest action by occupying the tracks along the Ambala Ludhiana-Amritsar route near the Punjab-Haryana border since Wednesday. The focal point of their agitation remains the release of the detained farmers, a condition they vow to uphold until their demands are met.
These protests are part of a broader movement spearheaded by the SKM (Non-Political) and the KMM, known as the 'Delhi Chalo' march, aimed at exerting pressure on the government to accede to their demands, which prominently include securing a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for agricultural produce. Since February 13, farmers have steadfastly maintained their presence at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana, following an initial halt to their march by security forces.
