The Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), led by core committee member and Amloh constituency in-charge Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna, staged a protest on Monday, alleging that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government was depriving Punjab’s unemployed youth of government jobs by favouring candidates from other states.
Addressing party workers during the protest, Khanna claimed that the recent recruitment by the Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) reflected a pattern of giving preference to “outsider” candidates over eligible Punjabi applicants.
Referring to the merit list for the posts of Assistant Sub-Station Attendant, he alleged that all 14 vacancies had been filled by candidates from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, leaving Punjab’s youth without opportunities.
He further alleged that the state’s recruitment process was being influenced by leaders from Delhi and accused the government of ignoring the interests of unemployed Punjabi youth.
Khanna also claimed that rising unemployment was pushing many youngsters towards drug abuse and crime. Recalling the AAP’s pre-election promise of providing an unemployment allowance of Rs 2,500 per month, he alleged that the commitment remained unfulfilled.
He questioned the appointment of several non-Punjabis to key positions in state institutions and challenged the government to make public the details of all appointments made since it assumed office.
Criticising the government’s handling of protests by job aspirants, Khanna alleged that unemployed youth demanding regular employment were met with police action instead of relief. He warned that the SAD (Badal) would intensify its agitation if the government failed to ensure priority for Punjab’s youth in government recruitment. Among those present at the protest were SGPC member Bhai Ravinder Singh Khalsa, state vice-president Joginder Singh Maini and constituency observer Jatinder Singh Dhaliwal.