Chandigarh, Oct 13 (PTI) Protesting farmers in Punjab today decided to call off their seven-day 'Rail Roko' stir, which has crippled rail services in the state, but said their agitation against the government would continue. Instead of blocking tracks, the farmers have now decided to gherao all state ministers, ruling party MLAs, other party leaders at all the district headquarters on October 22. "We have decided to call off our 'Rail Roko' agitation. We will lift our blockade at different places in the state at 2 PM," BKU Ekta (Dakunda) General Secretary Jagmohan Singh said. However, he said their agitation against the SAD-BJP led state government would continue for non-acceptance of all of their demands including higher compensation for cotton crop loss. The farmers' agitation, which began on October 7, paralysed rail movement in Punjab as over 1,100 trains were affected because of protest in Ambala and Ferozepur divisions of railways, causing inconvenience to passengers and heavy loss to financial loss to railway authorities. Railway officials said it will take a minimum of 24 hours to restore normalcy as railway would carry out inspection of tracks where protesting farmers had put up blockades. The crucial talks between protesting farmers and Badal failed to break the deadlock over peasants' demands yesterday, following which farmers announced to continue with their agitation till today.
