595 trains were cancelled during the day across the county due to the protest against the Centre’s new recruitment scheme, ‘Agnipath’. These include 208 mail express and a total of 379 passenger trains. Four mail express and six passenger trains were partially cancelled due to the ongoing stir. The Northern Railways said that 71 Delhi-bound commuter trains (including return services) and 18 East bound train services scheduled from different northern railway terminals were cancelled.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh along with the three service chiefs – IAF, Army and Air Force, had launched the ‘Agnipath’ scheme on June 14. Despite meeting with nationwide stir and sharp criticism from the opposition leaders, the BJP-led Centre has refused to revoke the scheme. All the three service chiefs have said the policy will be beneficial to India’s youth and will also give them a chance to serve the nation. After the launch of the scheme, Railways properties in several places have been damaged, especially in Bihar.
