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Farmers in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruchirappalli district staged a ‘rail roko’ protest on the Cauvery Railway Bridge, demanding better support for agriculture. The protest was led by the prominent farmer leader and lawyer, P. Ayyakannu. It was organised in response to actions taken against farm leaders in Punjab, who were involved in protests pressing for a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops, among other demands.

 

The protest in Tamil Nadu was part of a larger movement, as farmers across India have been rallying for their rights, particularly around the issue of MSP. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and local police intervened to manage the situation and clear the tracks, ensuring the disruption was minimised.

 

In the meantime, Punjab's Agriculture Minister, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, called for a meeting with leaders of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) in Chandigarh. This meeting, scheduled for 4 PM on Friday at Punjab Bhawan, aims to discuss the ongoing farmers' protests in the state and explore potential solutions.

 

Also read: Farmer leaders detained ahead of Chandigarh sit-in

 

Earlier, Punjab Police’s DIG Mandeep Singh mentioned the ongoing operation to clear moveable farm equipment, such as tractors and trolleys, from the borders. He noted that the farmers had cooperated with the authorities during this operation, and proper care was being taken of those detained. The focus was on reopening the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, which had been blocked by protesting farmers.

 

Meanwhile, farmers in Punjab, under the banners of All India Kisan Sabha and Bharatiya Kisan Union, staged a protest march towards the residence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini in Karnal. Several prominent farmer leaders, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on an indefinite hunger strike, were detained during this march.

 

Punjab Minister Harpal Singh Cheema defended the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led government's actions, asserting that the measures were taken to restore order and open the borders. However, criticism has been levelled at the central government, with opposition leaders accusing it of failing to honour promises made to farmers following the forceful removal of protests in Punjab.