Even as Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, along with his cabinet ministers, sat on a dharna at Jantar Mantar in Delhi against the new farm laws, demanding Centre’s intervention in resuming train services, the Union government accused the state government of playing politics.
Due to farmers' agitation, the movement of trains has been stopped in the state which was resulting in shortage of goods, and coal needed to produce electricity. The state government said power generation has come to a halt and demanded Centre’s intervention.
“At 32 places, the railways services have been disrupted. Maintaining law and order is state subject. They should hold dialogue with farmers; they have not done it. Centre is giving the power the state is entitled to. It’s the state's responsibility,” Union Information And Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said, responding to Punjab CM’s allegations.
The minister said the farmers were said to be protesting because of MSP and APMC mandis. “The fact is Punjab farmers have brought out more produce to markets. It's 158 lakh metric tonnes till now, which is 25 per cent more has been sold than last year. 95 per cent of the target has been achieved. So, if political agitation is on, that is the responsibility of the state.”
Javadekar said the state’s farmers have already expressed their trust in the new laws as they have brought their produce to the market, exceeding last year’s figure.
“Common farmers have come to the market. They have reposed faith in the new laws. Sometimes, we feel is it an agitation in favour of the commission agents. Farmers have reposed faith in new regime. The agitation is due to political reasons,” Javadekar said during the cabinet briefing. He said the state government should have held talks with the agitating farmers and ended the agitation on the railway tracks.
Singh, during his sit-in at Jantar Mantar, said the Punjab governor has not sent the three bills passed by the state assembly for assent to the President. When Singh sought an appointment with the President, it was denied.
As trains were not allowed in the state, there was shortage of coal, and fertilisers and other commodities, which was driving up prices.
The railways ministry, in a separate statement, said the public transporter was losing revenue as freight operations remain forcibly suspended.
“Till date, more than 2,225 freight rakes could not be operated upon carrying vital commodities. Loss already expected to have crossed Rs 1,200 crore already.”
The railways minister had written to the Punjab CM on October 26, 2020, seeking assurance about the safety of tracks and running staff to resume operations.
“Due to the continued blockages at sections of tracks in Punjab, there has been an adverse impact on freight movement and hence on availability of vital commodities for farm, industrial and infrastructure sector as well.
“All passenger trains passing through the state of Punjab has been adversely impacted too. Till date, more than 1,350 passenger trains have been cancelled, diverted or short-terminated. This has caused tremendous inconvenience to the travellers in COVID-19 times,” the railways ministry said.
As Punjab is a gateway to states like J&K, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, the movement of essential commodities has been affected, including sending ration and equipment to armed forces at the border.
