Like MNS in Maharashtra now its Kannada Rakshana Vedike in Karnataka, There was an attack on Railway recruitment candidates in Karnataka exams were disrupted in Bangalore and Mysore as activists of the Kannada Rakshana Vedike protested at the exam centres. Their demand was greater representation of Kannadigas in the railways.
The activists barged into the exam centres in Mysore and Bangalore, seized the question and answer papers from the candidates and tore them, shouting slogans against the railway recruitment board for denying job opportunity to locals and encouraging north Indians, particularly from Bihar, at the expense of candidates from the southern state.
Police arrested 65 KPF activists who were part of the groups that disrupted the exams being conducted in the Karnataka capital, Mysore and Hubli.
However, unfortunately for them, this was how the Kannada Rakshana Vedike decided to make their point - and not for the first time. Ravi Varma came all the way to Mysore from Bihar because he needs a job and is concerned about the extra expenditure now involved.
"We have come from thousands of kilometres away. The exam has been postponed to the 17th. Where to stay until then? If this kind of thing happens, it is very difficult. We only come here because it is difficult for us at home. Those who protest should understand this," said Ravi.
Many believe these attacks are misguided, but at the Bangalore exam centre, it was misguided in a different way - a centre holding KPSC exams was also attacked.
Admitting that the exam was disrupted in Bangalore and Mysore but not at Hubli, a railway official said a fresh exam would be conducted July 17 in the two centres where it was disrupted.
Incidentally, Muniyappa assured the people that local candidates would not be denied opportunity to compete for railway jobs in the South Western Railway (SWR) zone or any other zone in the country on merit.
We will not allow discrimination against locals. Everyone should have equal right to a railway job irrespective of his home state, language, caste and creed, Muniyappa pointed out.
Posted by Prakash Jadhav | Views 313 | Share Blog
