Dharwad (Karnataka), Feb 24 (NationPress) Thousands of students, along with members of the All Karnataka State Student Association (AKSSA) and unemployed youth, conducted a significant protest in Dharwad on Tuesday. They are urging the Karnataka government to urgently fill numerous vacant positions across various state departments.

The BJP has joined the protest, amplifying the pressure on the Karnataka government regarding unemployment issues.

Demonstrators assembled in large numbers, brandishing placards featuring images of Congress leaders while chanting slogans against the administration, accusing it of procrastinating recruitment processes.

The group insisted on immediate notifications and recruitment for the vacant posts, highlighting that extensive delays have left millions of educated youths jobless.

Law enforcement faced challenges in controlling the crowd as protesters pushed through barricades, attempting to march towards Jayanagar. This resulted in confrontations with police, creating tense moments throughout parts of the city. Additional police units were called in to uphold law and order and prevent the situation from escalating.

The AKSSA had sought permission from police for several days to hold the demonstration, but requests were denied for various reasons. Subsequently, the association approached the court, leading to a directive that allowed the protest under police regulations. Nevertheless, the organization proceeded with the protest in alignment with the BJP’s call.

Leader of Opposition, R. Ashoka, commented on the demonstration while addressing the media in Chitradurga, alleging that the state government has failed to tackle unemployment, despite having the go-ahead to fill thousands of vacant positions.

Ashoka stated that over 250,000 government positions remain unfilled in Karnataka, with the finance department approving recruitment for 65,000 roles nearly six months ago, yet no interviews have taken place.

He criticized the state leadership for not providing job opportunities to unemployed youth, even after more than two and a half years in power. He accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of prioritizing internal political matters over supporting students from underprivileged backgrounds.

Ashoka noted that around 20,000 unemployed youths are taking part in the protest and he plans to join them shortly. He also warned that if the government does not promptly initiate the recruitment process, the BJP and student groups would escalate their agitation statewide.

Ashoka demands that the government issue recruitment notifications without any further delays and commence the hiring process to offer job opportunities to eligible candidates across the state.