Farmer leader Pandher calls on Punjab People to Participate in "Rail Roko" rally on 18th of December for protesting farmer rights
Farmer leader, Sarwan Singh Pandher of the Punjab state has invited people from the state of Punjab to join the 18th December 2024 scheduled "Rail Roko" protest. The protest is part of a bigger campaign, after the tractor march on December 16, which will take place outside Punjab. Pandher has appealed for massive participation from all 13,000 villages near railway crossings and stations in Punjab. From 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM on December 18, the participants will block railway tracks, signaling their dissent and demanding the government take immediate action.
Pandher's call for 'Rail Roko' follows the increasing tensions on the Shambhu Border where a group of 101 farmers was prevented from marching to Delhi by police. The police, including the use of tear gas, water cannons and chemical water, left 17 of them injured, some with grave injuries. Pandher called it a government that did not bother to take care of their health and was insensitive in terms of providing them the required medical attention.
The farmers movement has been gaining momentum since a few months back, which in turn has increased its intensity with the government yet to listen to their grievances. Pandher criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the opposition for not raising the plight of the farmers during the present winter session of Parliament. Pandher's appeal is for solidarity, hoping the 'Rail Roko' will put further pressure on the government to fulfill the promises they had made to the farmers.
Punjab's farmers seem determined to express their opinion as the protest movement is picking up steam. 'Rail Roko' protest promises to be the largest show of dissent against farmers' distress across the nation, according to Pandher. Hopefully, the voice of the people will be finally heard, and the government will work on resolving issues faced by the farmers, he believes.
