Farmers' stir ends, leaves Railways with loss of Rs 150 cr

October 13, 2015 23:00

Farmers in Punjab today ended their week-long rail blockade that crippled train services and caused a loss of about Rs 150 crore to railways besides a huge loss to the state but decided to continue their protest in a different format.

The farmers, seeking higher compensation for the losses caused to the farm produce, decided to prevent ministers from entering villages and 'gherao' (picket) the residences of ministers, MLAs and other leaders of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal on October 23.

"We have called off our 'Rail Roko' agitation and started lifting blockade at different places in the state," BKU Ekta (Dakunda) General Secretary Jagmohan Singh said about the stir which was launched on October 7.

However, BKU Ekta (Ugrahan) General Secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri said their agitation against the state government would continue for non-acceptance of all of their demands including higher compensation for cotton crop loss.

The agitation badly hit rail movement in Punjab with over 1,200 trains being affected because of protest in Ambala and Ferozepur divisions of railways, causing inconvenience to passengers and an estimated loss of about Rs 150 crore to the railways.

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