Nationwide Tractor Protests: Farmers March in Various States, Rail Services Disrupted in Tamil Nadu

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): On the call of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), farmers will organize a tractor march in various states, excluding Punjab, on Monday, December 16. Farmer leaders have stated that large-scale tractor marches will take place at both district and tehsil levels. Additionally, trains will be halted at 15 locations in Tamil Nadu as part of the protest.

A 'Rail Roko' movement has been planned for December 18 in Punjab, in a significant development. Sarwan Singh Pandher, a prominent farmer leader from Punjab, said they have mobilized people from 13,000 villages in the state to block railway tracks at 12 PM on December 18. Speaking to the media at Shambhu Border in Patiala, he urged residents living near railway crossings to join the protest, emphasizing the unity of the farmer organizations behind the call.

Pandher's remarks came after an earlier attempt by farmers to march on foot, which led to clashes with Haryana security forces. Consequently, 17 farmers were injured. The farmer leader said that although the farmers had planned a peaceful march, they were met with force, which prompted a more aggressive form of protest.

In his letter to the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, which is the umbrella body of the previous farmer agitations led by Rakesh Tikait, Sarwan Singh has stressed workers' welfare and appealed for an all-inclusive platform in order to support the current agitation being fought for farmers and labourers. This latest wave of protests follows the failed attempts made by farmers to march on foot to Delhi earlier in the month. Even on December 6, 8, and 14, their efforts were not allowed into the capital by the police. On December 14, tear gas was used which injured 17 farmers.

Now that their protest movement has reached a new level, farmers have now resorted to the disruption of railway traffic in Punjab, an act that will surely disrupt train services and cause trouble to passengers. The escalation of protests came after the previous attempts to reach Delhi had failed as the farmers are bent on continuing their fight for their rights.