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Farmers stage protest at Coimbatore's Somanur Railway Station

SimpliCity News Team · 03 Oct 2024

Coimbatore: Farmers staged a protest at Somanur Railway Station in Coimbatore on Tuesday, October 3, as part of a nationwide rail roko campaign. The demonstration was in support of the ongoing Delhi Chalo 2.0 agitation and to demand justice for a farmer who died by suicide during the protests.

The protest at Somanur was organized by various farmer associations, including the Coordinating Committee of Farmers' Associations, Non-Partisan Tamil Nadu Farmers' Association, and Narayanasamy Naidu Farmers' Association. More than 40 farmers attempted to block the railway tracks but were prevented by the police who had set up barricades.

Unable to proceed with the rail roko, the farmers resorted to besieging the railway station and holding a demonstration. They raised slogans against the central BJP government for ignoring the farmers' protests that have been ongoing in the northern states for the past two years.

The protesting farmers put forth several demands, including the implementation of minimum support prices for all crops as recommended by the M.S. Swaminathan Committee. They also called for the withdrawal of criminal cases filed against farmers under various laws, including the Goondas Act.

The farmers demanded action against the son of a Union Minister of State, who they claim is responsible for the deaths of farmers during the protests. They also urged the government to implement other recommendations made by the M.S. Swaminathan Committee to improve the agricultural sector.

The protest at Somanur was a part of a larger movement that began in February when farmers from Punjab attempted to march to Delhi. However, they were stopped at the Punjab-Haryana border, where they have been staging a prolonged sit-in protest.

The recent suicide of 53-year-old farmer Gurmeet Singh from Dhudiyanwali village in Punjab's Mansa district on September 25 has further intensified the farmers' agitation. Singh had been participating in the protest since February 13.

As the standoff between the farmers and the government continues, similar protests are being organized across the country to show solidarity with the agitating farmers and to press for their demands to be met.

farmers protest rail roko Somanur Delhi Chalo 2.0 minimum support price agricultural demands

Farmers stage protest at Coimbatore's Somanur Railway Station

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