Job aspirants’ protest: Arvind Bellad flays police action

Dharwad: Deputy leader of the opposition in assembly, Arvind Bellad, has condemned the police action against job aspirants who were detained while attempting to stage a protest demanding timely recruitment to vacant posts in various state govt departments on April 14. Bellad alleged police not only detained and later released the candidates, but also issued notices imposing stringent conditions. These included executing a bond of Rs 1 lakh and restrictions barring them from participating in any protest for a year. He termed the move "reprehensible" and demanded that the notices be withdrawn immediately. Recalling a previous protest held in Dharwad over recruitment delays, Bellad said the CM had assured that the recruitment process would begin within a month. "However, the process has not yet commenced. Frustrated by the delay, students attempted to protest again to alert the govt. They were detained and coerced into accepting notices," he said, calling it a reflection of administrative failure.