Railways not to start Punjab operations unless passenger trains are allowed

No one should tell railways which trains we should operate, says V K Yadav, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Railway Board

The Indian Railways on Saturday said unless rail tracks were cleared for passenger trains too in Punjab, it would not restart operations.

This comes despite the state government and the agitating farmers saying the passage for freight trains would not be blocked.

"There is no question of ego. No one should tell railways which trains we should operate. We will run trains when there is safety assured for both passenger and freight trains," said V K Yadav, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Railway Board.

According to the Railways, at least 23 stations were facing blockades. People had occupied one of