Farm Bills: Farmers' Body To Hold Three-Day 'Rail Roko' Agitation In Punjab From 24 September

In protests against the central government's three agriculture sector billing, a farmer's body in Punjab has announced a three-day 'rail roko' agitation across the state from 24 to 26 September, Hindustan Times reported on Friday (18 September).

The body Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee is among many organisations and groups that have been opposing the farm bills, that have been passed in the Lok Sabha.

“We have decided to hold a rail roko agitation from September 24 to 26 in the state against the farm bills,” Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher was quoted as saying in the report.

Earlier on Thursday evening, Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned from the Union Cabinet in protest against the bills terming them "anti-farmer".

"I have resigned from Union Cabinet in protest against anti-farmer ordinances and legislation. Proud to stand with farmers as their daughter & sister," she wrote on Twitter.

Her party Akali Dal though will continue to support the Narendra Modi led central government.

The farm reform bills namely The Farmers' Produce Trade And Commerce (Promotion And Facilitation) Bill', 'The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill', and 'The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill' have been touted as game-changers for the farm sectors.

One of the key features of these bills is freeing farmers from government controlled market and prices, thereby allowing them to directly deal with private companies for a better price for their produce.