‘No headway in dialogue between Govt-farmers’
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Aug 23: As there is no headway in dialogue between the agitating farmers on the Rail tracks in Punjab and the top Government officials, the Northern Railway again cancelled about 45 trains operating from Jammu, Udhampur and Katra Mata Vaishnodevi stations in J&K.
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A Northern Railways official told the “Excelsior” that the talks between the top Punjab Government officials and farmers’ leaders remained inconclusive again, therefore, the trains operation on Katra-Jammu-Delhi and Amritsar- Jallandhar- Delhi routes remained suspended on the fourth consecutive day today. He said the Railway authorities have diverted the route of some trains to facilitate the passengers.
He further informed that the Northern Railway authorities are operating two trains- Jhelum Express and Himgiri from Jammu station through diverted routes in Punjab tonight. He said three trains including Superfast, Himgiri and Jhelum Express arrived today through diverted route. It has helped to clear some rush of passengers at Katra and Jammu stations.
The farmers on Friday had launched an indefinite agitation in Jallandhar area and blocked train movement on the Delhi-Ambala-Ludhiana-Amritsar and the Delhi-Ambala-Ludhiana-Jammu-Udhampur-Katra railway routes. They are demanding increase in the prices of sugarcane and clear pending dues of farmers. They are also demanding to clear payment of arrears to the tune of Rs 200-250 crore of farmers.
They have already rejected the hike of Rs 15 per quintal announced by the Punjab Government a few days back. The State Government had revised sugarcane rates to Rs 325 for the early variety, Rs 315 for mid variety and Rs 310 per quintal for the late maturing variety.
A Northern Railway official said that at least 45 trains have been cancelled today from Jammu, Udhampur and Katra stations. There is no hope of operation of trains even tomorrow as the farmers have refused to lift dharna from the track till their demands are met. The talks with farmers’ leaders also failed today to achieve any result.
The official said that a large number of passengers including Mata Vaishnodevi pilgrims are struck in Katra and Jammu stations. The trains have been cancelled and they are now looking for other options to reach their destinations.
Twenty trains were cancelled at Jammu Station today. The DMU train between Pathankote-Jammu and Udhampur is operating normally. Except Jhelum Express and Himgiri, the operation of all other trains has been suspended from Jammu till tomorrow, a Northern Railway spokesman informed.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh will meet farmers’ leaders over sugarcane prices and clearance of pending dues tomorrow.
Farmers have blocked National Highway and rail tracks over the issues in Jallandhar, forcing the authorities to cancel train or divert traffic.
The meeting between the CM and farmer leaders will be held at Chandigarh tomorrow, a senior official of the Punjab Agriculture Department said.
A group of officials and experts, including Punjab’s Commissioner (Agriculture) Balwinder Singh Sidhu and two economists of Punjab Agricultural University today held a meeting with farmer leaders at Jalandhar and heard them over the cost of sugarcane production.
Sidhu said on most of the issues, a consensus between Government and farmers have evolved while there are still differences on some issues, which were expected to be resolved in Tuesday’s meeting with the Chief Minister.
He described Monday’s meeting as a step in the right direction to end the ongoing agitation. The State Government had revised sugarcane rates to Rs 325 for the early variety, Rs 315 for mid variety and Rs 310 per quintal for the late maturing variety.
Bharti Kisan Union general secretary Satnam Singh Sahni said their protest will continue till their demands are met.
The protesters have blocked the Jallandhar-Phagwara stretch of the Delhi-Amritsar National Highway near Dhanowali village of Jallandhar district.
Meanwhile, Railway officials in the Ferozepur division said a refund of Rs 53.65 lakh was given to 12,300 passengers for the cancellation of trains so far.
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