MUMBAI, 18 February, 2021 (TON): On Thursday, “Rail-Roko”- Indian farmers agitated on the farm laws staged a four-hour rail-blockade in different parts of Maharashtra, although the train services majorly remained unaffected.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and other farmers' organizations led protest marches to railway stations and railway lines in a various districts like Thane, Palghar, Nashik, Aurangabad, Pune, Parbhani, Yavatmal, while reports were awaited from other districts, said a spokesperson for the organizers.

The farmers carried banners, flags, and posters and raise vociferous slogans demanding the repeal of the 3 new farm laws as they attempted to storm rail premises or railway tracks. The rally was led by the state and local leaders.

However, the heavy presence of the local and Railway Protection Forces ensured that services were not hit by the agitation, and there was no impact on the suburban train services in Mumbai city.

The protestors attempted to squat on the railway tracks in Palghar, Nashik, and Aurangabad; however, the police cleared the lines for the train services to continue unhindered and detained hundreds of protestors that were released later as the four-hour rail-roko continued without any untoward incidents.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the opposite party BJP Ram Kadam allegedly said that the demonstrators were not farmers but activists of Congress parties.

The row between the government and the farmers was likely to be calmed when the PM reiterated the laws are meant to benefit the agricultural sector and not to harm the farmers, however, the agitated farmers did not agree.