The Shambu railway station has turned into a hub of protests, impacting the smooth commute between Punjab and Haryana.
New Delhi: For a month now, a band of farmers has occupied the railway tracks at Shambhu station, demanding the release of three farmers apprehended during border demonstrations at Shambhu and Khanauri. Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and SKM (Non-Political), the protest’s organizers, initiated the action on the 17th of April. Interestingly, the border protests are fast approaching their hundredth day, set to be marked on the 22nd of May.
“One month has passed but the Haryana government did not even bother to look into our demands. They are showing farmers in a bad light,” Tejveer Singh, BKU (Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Haryana) spokesperson, was quoted saying in a report by the Indian Express.
The Shambu railway station has turned into a hub of protests, impacting the smooth commute between Punjab and Haryana. Daily, around 69 trains are forced to terminate their trips due to this unrest. On top of that, over 150 trains are rerouted, causing their schedules to significantly derail. According to the Ambala railway division, popular trains, namely Vande Bharat and Shatabadi Express, are facing frequent delays ranging anywhere from four to eight hours.
“Haryana government has booked our young farmers and then arrested them in false cases. When we are raising our voices, they are not even listening to us. We never wanted to sit on the rail tracks, but if our demands are not heard, what can we do?” KMM coordinator Sarwan Pandher was quoted saying in the report.