The ongoing farmers’ rail blockade at Shambhu on the Ambala-Ludhiana line has entered its eighth day, affecting the movement of 149 trains on Wednesday. According to Deepak Kumar, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northern Railway’s Ambala division, the agitation has forced the cancellation of 75 trains, diversion of 64, and short termination or short origination of 10. The blockade, which began on May 26, has had a significant impact on rail traffic, with a total of 1,139 trains, including mail express, Shatabdi, and passenger trains, being canceled or diverted in the last eight days. The protesting farmers are demanding the release of three farmer unionists from the custody of Haryana Police. The impact of the blockade has also been felt on Ambala’s cloth market, as traders are unable to ship their goods economically. Shambhu station lies on a key railway line connecting Delhi with Punjab and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Farmer union leader Sarvan Singh Pandher has vowed to continue the protests at Shambhu, Khanauri, and Dabwali borders and has warned the government of a mega gathering across the country once the protests complete 100 days. The farmers are also demanding a quick girdawari (revenue survey) to compensate farmers for crop damage due to rain and hailstorm. The protest has drawn attention to the ongoing farmers’ agitation against the three farm laws passed by the central government in September last year. The farmers have been demanding the repeal of these laws, which they believe are detrimental to their interests. The government has held several rounds of talks with the farmers, but no consensus has been reached so far.
The ongoing farmers’ rail blockade at Shambhu on the Ambala-Ludhiana line has entered its eighth day, affecting the movement of 149 trains. According to Deepak Kumar, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northern Railway’s Ambala division, the agitation has forced the cancellation of 75 trains, diversion of 64, and short termination or short origination of 10. The blockade, which began on May 26, has had a significant impact on rail traffic, with a total of 1,139 trains, including mail express, Shatabdi, and passenger trains, being canceled or diverted in the last eight days. The protesting farmers are demanding the release of three farmer unionists from the custody of Haryana Police. The impact of the blockade has also been felt on Ambala’s cloth market, as traders are unable to ship their goods economically. Shambhu station lies on a key railway line connecting Delhi with Punjab and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Farmer union leader Sarvan Singh Pandher has vowed to continue the protests at Shambhu, Khanauri, and Dabwali borders and has warned the government of a mega gathering across the country once the protests complete 100 days. The farmers are also demanding a quick girdawari (revenue survey) to compensate farmers for crop damage due to rain and hailstorm. The protest has drawn attention to the ongoing farmers’ agitation against the three farm laws passed by the central government in September last year. The farmers have been demanding the repeal of these laws, which they believe are detrimental to their interests. The government has held several rounds of talks with the farmers, but no consensus has been reached so far.
