Farmer Unions’ Call For 6-Hour Rail Roko Today; Will Odisha Be Affected?

Bhubaneswar: Farmers’ unions will go ahead with their ‘rail roko’ programme on October 18 to protest against the Lakhimpur Kheri violence earlier this month.

Eight people lost their lives during a farmers’ protest on October 3, including four farmers who were allegedly mowed down by a vehicle belonging to Union Minister Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), comprising several farmers’ groups, had called for a six-hour ‘rail roko’ – 10 am to 4 pm — on Monday unless the Central minister was removed. According to BKU leader Rakesh Tikait, a fair probe in the case would not be possible if the accused person’s father continued to be a minister in Delhi.

His son Ashish Mishra has been arrested, that too three days after an FIR was filed against him. But the BJP has not taken bowed down to Opposition demand of dismissing Ajay Mishra.

Will the rail roko affect Odisha?

There could be sporadic protests in some districts, as was the case during the Bharat Bandh call last month.

Odisha Congress has extended support to the farmers’ protest, with state party president Niranjan Patnaik writing to the district presidents urging them to make the programme successful.

“Narendra Modi-led Union Government is sole responsible for price rise of essential commodities, increasing unemployment, atrocity on tribals, dalits and minorities across the country,” Patnaik said in a statement.

He also appealed to party MPs, MLAs, ex-MPs, ex-MLAs and workers to join Monday’s protest.