With Punjab farmers bent upon not allowing passenger train movements through the state, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday urged the Centre to show magnanimity and not link the restoration of freight train service with that of the passenger ones. The deadlock between protesting farmers and the Railways continued over the issue of resumption of trains. Punjab farmers' bodies had on Wednesday said they would consider allowing passenger trains to run in the state if the Centre starts running the goods trains first. The Railways, however, has refused to resume goods trains, saying it would either operate both freight and passenger trains and none.

The suspension of goods trains has hit the supplies of fertilizers for the agriculture sector and coal for thermal power plants, besides adversely affecting the industry. The CM said he intended to hold discussions with farmers' representatives and also to meet the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister on the issue, which has resulted in massive losses to the state exchequer and caused irrevocable damage to the industry and agriculture.

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