New Delhi: Fiery protests over Agnipath, the Centre’s news new recruitment scheme for Armed forces, continued for the second day and spread like wildfire across the country.
Protesters burnt trains in Bihar and Telangana, and vandalised railway stations in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Telangana.
Violent protests and track blockades at multiple locations forced Indian Railways to cancel or partially terminate hundreds of trains.
Railway officials said 35 trains were cancelled and 13 short-terminated. Around 200 train services have been affected.
With the situation getting out of hand, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday appealed to the youth to refrain from violent protests and not to damage Railway property.
“Railways is every citizen’s property, the nation’s property.. it’s our responsibility to protect it. I request you all not to damage any Railway property because it’s for your service only,” Vaishnwaw said.
Another Union minister Anurag Thakur met Agnipath aspirants and explained to them the new Central scheme. Clearing their doubts, Thakur urged them to take advantage of the scheme, India Today reported.
Meanwhile, around 500 youths ransacked and set the BJP office in Bihar’s Madhepura on fire.
Protesters also attacked Bihar deputy CM Renu Devi’s home.
Defending the Agnipath scheme, the defiant deputy CM told ANI: “Opposition is misleading students and their goons are destroying public property,”
