Rly jobs: KRV to intensify stir

Rly jobs: KRV to intensify stir
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: Kannada activists, led by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), have decided to continue their protest till the South Western Railway (SWR) makes fresh recruitments to Group D jobs by according priority to Kannadigas.
KRV has also threatened to obstruct railway recruitment if recommendations of the Sarojini Mahishi report are not implemented.
The protest is aimed at ensuring 80% reservation to Kannadigas in the Group C and D jobs in the Railways in the state.
The protesters have the support of pro-Kannada organizations, political parties, Kannada Sahitya Parishat, and writers and pontiffs from various mutts.
SWR has indefinitely postponed the recruitment of Group D employees in the state from January 10. The recruitment process began on January 3 at Bangalore, Mysore and Hubli, was scheduled to be held till February 5.
“The Railways have only postponed the recruitment. Our demand is to make fresh recruitments with reservations as recommended in the Mahishi report. We will not rest till our demand is met,’’ said KRV president T A Narayana Gowda.
He said the Mahishi report recommends 80% reservation of central government jobs in the Group C and D category for locals.
Cautioning the Railways, he said: “We will not allow them to make any recruitments in the state. Let them try, if they have the strength, to face the consequences.’’
KRV activists continued their protests on Thursday. One group held a dharna in front of the City Railway Station, while another stopped two goods train at the Cantonment station.
Former legislators Prameela Nesargi and B T Lalitha Naik were also part of the group which stopped trains. BJP members staged a protest near Town Hall, while members of the Chamarajpet unit of KRV took out a rally from Maruti Circle to Mysore Bank Circle, and burnt the effigy of Railway minister Lalu Prasad. The protests have gained momentum not only in Bangalore but across the state. KRV and various pro-Kannada organizations are staging protests against the Railways. On Thursday, KRV activists staged a protest in front of the post office in Chintamani.
Narayana Gowda said KRV will lay siege to Raj Bhavan on Friday at 11 am and organize a rally from Kempe Gowda statue to the railway station on January 16.
‘Recruitment in
2-3 months’
The postponement of recruitment of Group D employees to the SWR in the wake of recent protests will hit the railways’ activities and efforts to introduce more trains due to lack of staff in the zone, said SWR general manger Praveen Kumar.
Addressing reporters in Hubli on Thursday, Kumar said the ‘forced decision’ had caused hardship to aspirants and led to huge losses. He said the process will restart in two to three months when the situation is conducive. Refuting the impression among many organizations that aspirants from Bihar were favoured during recruitment, Kumar said the process was held in Hubli for the first time to give prominence to locals.
“Over 38% of the candidates who have appeared for the tests so far are locals,’’ said Kumar.
Praveen said recommending locals for recruitment was beyond his powers.
ROADBLOCKS
January 11 (Friday), 11 am: Laying siege to Raj Bhavan January 16 (Wednesday): Rally from Kempe Gowda statue (opposite BBMP head office in NR Square) to city railway station. Protests before all the railway stations and central government offices in the state from Friday