Railways Suffered Loss Of Rs 259.44 Cr Due To Violence During Agnipath Protests: Govt Tells Parliament

The Railway Minister also pointed out that separate data regarding amount of refund granted to passengers due to disruption of rail service is not maintained.

Members in the Rajya Sabha, during Parliament's Monsoon Session. (Image: PTI)

In the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Parliament, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Rajya Sabha on Thursday that Indian Railways suffered a loss of Rs 259.44 crores due to damage and destruction of its assets by protesters during the nationwide agitations against Centre's newly launched Agnipath scheme for military recruitment.  In a written reply in the Upper House, Vaishnaw also pointed out that 2,000 trains were affected due to the Agnipath protests across the country.

"2,132 trains were cancelled between June 15 and June 23," the minister said, adding that a total refund of approximately Rs 102.96 crore was granted on account of cancellation of trains.

In his response, the senior leader pointed out that separate data regarding amount of refund granted to passengers due to disruption of rail service is not maintained.

"However, during the period 14.06.2022 to 30.06.2022, a total refund of approximately Rs 102.96 crore was granted on account of cancellation of trains and a loss of Rs 259.44 crore due to damage/destruction of railway assets in agitations against Agnipath scheme was incurred. All the affected train services cancelled on account of Agnipath scheme have been restored," he said.

Vishnaw reply in Rajya Sabha came two days after he informed Lok Sabha that two people died, 35 were injured and 2,642 arrested from railway premises during the Agnipath agitation. He also informed the Lower House that "no compensation" has been paid to the passengers and their families who died/injured during the protests.

Violent and a large-scale nationwide protests were witnessed in several states of the country soon after the Centre announced the Agnipath Scheme - a military recruitment scheme that government claims will boost country's Defence capability. Railway properties were vandalised, torched and attacked in states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Telangana and others.