Former chief minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday met candidates on an indefinite hunger strike over their demands related to the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) recruitment process and urged the state government to address their concerns.
Addressing the protesters, Hooda alleged that the BJP government had forced Haryana's youth to resort to protests and an indefinite fast. He claimed that the candidates' demands regarding alleged irregularities in HPSC recruitment were genuine and urged the government to accept them without delay.
Expressing concern over the health of the protesters, Hooda said the condition of the fasting candidates was deteriorating. He alleged that the government's indifference, coupled with the prevailing heat, had worsened their situation.
Hooda appealed to the candidates to end their hunger strike and assured them that the Congress would continue to raise their issues both inside the Assembly and through public protests.
He further alleged that the government was jeopardising the future of Haryana's youth by overlooking local candidates in recruitment to Class A and Class B posts. He also claimed that vacancies reserved for Backward Classes (BC) and Scheduled Castes (SC) were being left unfilled.
Hooda criticised the 35 per cent eligibility criterion, alleging that it was being used to avoid filling vacant posts and deprive Haryana's youth of employment opportunities. He demanded that the criterion be withdrawn and the pending vacancies be filled at the earliest.
He said the recruitment process for the vacant posts should begin immediately, adding that the patience of the youth was running out. Hooda said the Congress party would continue to support the protesting candidates in their fight.
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