Pakistan stops Samjhauta run due to Punjab farmers’ stir

AMRITSAR: The Punjab farmers’ ‘rail roko’ agitation seeking higher compensation for crop damage caused by Whitefly attack has had a cross-border impact, probably for the first time.
Even as train and road traffic has remained hit in Punjab for the second day on Thursday, Pakistan has decided not to send Samjhauta Express -- which plies between Wagah (Pakistan) and Attari (India).
READ ALSO: Whitefly destroys 2/3rd of Punjab's cotton crop, 15 farmers commit suicide
“We had informed our counterparts about the cancellation of Delhi-Attari train so they stopped the Samjhauta Express run,” said divisional rail manager Anuj Parkash.
The train service between the two neighbouring countries has remained suspended earlier due to souring of ties but it’s the first time Pakistan has stopped the train due to farmers’ unrest in India.
General Secretary, Border Area Sangarash Committee, Rattan Singh Randhawa, alleged that owing to ‘cool’ response of state government towards the farmers’ agitation, the leaders held a meeting on Thursday and decided to continue their rail roko agitation till Saturday. “We are very sorry to say that government is just not taking any interest in solving farmers’ issues,” he said.
Kissan Sangarash Committee’s state vice-president Sarwan Singh Pandher said they felt bad about causing inconvenience to the passengers but said the government had forced them to agitate. “If Samjhauta Express has been cancelled, the government is responsible for it”.
He said they wanted a minimum compensation of Rs 40,000 per acre to be given to the farmers who suffered losses.
Dhanwant Khaterainkala of Kirti Kissan Union blamed the state and central governments for the plight of farmers. “If there were no spurious pesticides, the cotton-grower farmers would not have been forced to commit suicide,” he said.
Meanwhile, District Congress Committee (rural) president Gurjit Singh Aujla also protested along with the farmer groups.