Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee extends its 'rail roko' agitation in Punjab till Sept 29
Chandigarh: The Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee on Friday announced extending its 'rail roko' agitation in Punjab against three farm Bills till September 29.
The three-day agitation was scheduled to end on September 26.
"We have decided to extend our agitation till September 29. We want the government to resolve the issue of farm Bills," committee president Satnam Singh Pannu said over the phone.
The 'rail roko' agitation had started on Thursday, forcing the railway authorities to suspend the operation of special passenger trains in the state.
Railway authorities had earlier said that 14 pairs of special trains would remain suspended between September 24 and September 26.
The decision to suspend rail operations had been taken keeping in mind the safety of passengers and protection of railway property from any damage, officials said.
Farmers have expressed apprehension that the farm Bills would pave the way for dismantling of the minimum support price system and they would be at the "mercy" of big corporate entities. The farmers said they would continue their fight till the three farm Bills were revoked.
The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill were passed by Parliament earlier this week.
The government has said that the proposed legislations will benefit the farmers and help increase their earnings.
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US confirms Israel's attack on Iran, says it was not involved
Washington: In response to recent developments, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed concerns regarding reported offensive operations involving Israel and Iran. Blinken emphasized that the United States has not been engaged in any offensive operations, stressing on the nation's commitment to de-escalating tensions in the region.
Speaking on behalf of the G7, Blinken reiterated the focus on de-escalation efforts, as reflected in their recent discussions and statements. He emphasized the importance of working collaboratively to reduce tensions and promote stability.
Earlier reports had indicated that the US received advance notification of a planned Israeli strike on Iran, scheduled for the coming days. However, Blinken clarified that while the US was informed of the intended strike, it did not endorse the action. This statement highlights the United States' stance of neutrality in the matter and its commitment to diplomatic solutions to mitigate tensions.
"We’re committed to Israel’s security. We’re also committed to de-escalating -- to trying to bring this tension to a close," Blinken said during a news conference at the conclusion of the group's meeting in Capri, Italy, hours after a US official told CNN that Israel had launched a military strike on Iran.
He also said the countries shared "a commitment to hold Iran to account."
Blinken said the nations condemned Iran's weekend strikes on Israel. He called those attacks "unprecedented in scope and scale; scope because it was a direct attack on Israel from Iran, scale because it involved more than 300 munitions including ballistic missiles."
