Appeal To Youth To Not Damage Property: Railways Minister Amid Protests
Mumbai: Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Friday appealed to the youth of the country to “not indulge in violent protests”. Vaishnaw further urged them to not damage the property of the Railways.
His appeal comes in the wake of massive damage to railways in several states during protests over the Centre’s newly introduced army recruitment scheme – Agnipath. Also Read: Trains Set On Fire In Bihar, Uttar Pradesh Amid Protests Against Agnipath Scheme
Protests took place in Bihar and Telangana today, upset with the new recruitment scheme of the central government. They also vandalized railway stations in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Telangana. Also Read: Agnipath Scheme Golden Opportunity For Youth To Serve Nation: Rajnath Singh
In Bihar, protesters set fire to train coaches at Islampur railway station in Nalanda and Danapur railway station in Patna. In Patna, army candidates set trains on fire and threw cycles, benches, bikes and stalls on railway tracks. Patna DM Dr. Chandrashekhar Singh said that around 1500 protesters had gathered there and vandalized the property at Danapur station. Also Read: 1st Agniveers To Join Our Centres By Dec, Will Be Deployment-Ready By Mid-2023: Army Chief
Coaches were also set on fire at Secunderabad railway station in Telangana. Divisional Railway Manager of Secunderabad railway station AK Gupta said that the protesters set fire to 4-5 engines and 2-3 coaches of the train.
Talking to reporters, he said, “We will analyze the damage. One person has been reported injured. Train services have been temporarily suspended for the safety of the passengers.”
Due to violent protests and blocking of tracks by Agnipath protesters, Indian Railways has cancelled and partially terminated hundreds of trains across the country.
According to reports, around 200 train services have been affected. East Central Railway said that nine trains were cancelled and nine trains were cancelled in Bengal.
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