Farmers' Union in Punjab Plans Statewide Rail Blockade on December 5
Farmers' Union Announces Rail Blockade
The Farmers' Workers' Front (India) Punjab Chapter has declared a two-hour 'Rail Roko' protest on December 5, aimed at symbolically halting train services across various districts in the state. Scheduled from 1 PM to 3 PM, this demonstration will see farmers occupying railway tracks at 26 locations in 19 districts to voice their opposition to the draft Electricity Amendment Bill 2025, the introduction of prepaid electricity meters, and the Punjab government's forced sale of public assets under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
The union stated that the protest aims to express strong discontent against provisions of the proposed electricity law, which they believe will burden rural consumers, privatize essential services, and impose prepaid meters in villages. Farmers are also demanding the reinstatement of old electricity meters and the withdrawal of measures they feel harm public properties and weaken the state's agricultural ecosystem.
Symbolic and Peaceful Resistance
Union leaders described the 'Rail Roko' as a symbolic and peaceful form of resistance intended to draw the central government's attention to the long-standing concerns of farmers. They warned that ongoing neglect could lead them to escalate their protests.
According to the announcement, the protest will take place at major railway stations throughout Punjab, including Devi Das Pura and Majitha in Amritsar district on the Delhi-Amritsar main line, as well as key stations in Gurdaspur—Batala, Gurdaspur, and Dera Baba Nanak—located on the Amritsar-Jammu Kashmir route. In Pathankot, protesters plan to gather at the Paramanand Gate, while disruptions are expected at the Tarn Taran railway station in Tarn Taran district.
Travel Disruptions Expected
During the two-hour period, temporary disruptions in railway operations are anticipated, and passengers are advised to check for potential route changes, delays, or cancellations. The Farmers' Workers' Front has urged supporters to maintain discipline and ensure that the protest remains peaceful. The organization emphasized that the action on December 5 is merely the beginning of a broader campaign until officials address the farmers' concerns.