Farmers try to stop trains under rail-roko stir

Raipur, Oct 19: Farmer unions affiliated to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha tried to stop trains at different places in Chhattisgarh in response to a nationwide call for rail roko andolan in support of the demand for dismissal of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra over Lakhimpur Khiri incident. A goods train carrying coal was stopped in Korba. Meanwhile police stopped a group of farmers from reaching the Raipur station.
Farmers’ representatives tried to stop trains at Raipur railway station under the leadership of Chhattisgarh Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh. The farmers gathered at the entry point of the expressway before moving towards the railway tracks, but the state police and RPF stopped them from moving further. Farmers’ unions kept raising slogans on the expressway itself. Former MLA Janaklal Thakur, Jageshwar Jugnu Chandrakar of Federation Convenor Board, Parasnath Sahu, Secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union Harpreet Singh Randhawa etc. were present. According to farmers it would not be possible to investigate Lakhimpur Khiri incident impartially as long as Ajay Mishra holds the office of the Union Minister of State for Home.
In such a situation he should be dismissed from cabinet immediately, they said. They also demanded to withdraw three agriculture laws and bring a new law providing guarantee for MSP. Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha led the movement in Korba by targeting Gewra-Dipka rail section. A group of dozens of farhers sat on track near Ganganagar for some time. They claimed that several rakes of coal coming out of Gewra mines were affected due to blockade and SECL incurred loss. Later police came and told the farmers to move out of track.