Recruitment interviews at Kudal: Co says GFP claims fake, party produces proof

Panaji: Allegations over MRF’s attempt to hire Maharashtrians to work at its Ponda plant snowballed into a major embarrassment for both govt and the tyre manufacturer on Thursday, after GFP produced “proof” of interviews scheduled in Kudal, Maharashtra.

GFP president Vijai Sardesai cited email exchanges between MRF’s HR, recruitment firm Logskim Solutions, and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Dheeraj Parab, confirming coordination for the recruitment drive at Kudal on Friday. The disclosures undermined MRF’s categorical denial, in which its plant head Sujith Sundran Nair dismissed GFP’s claims as “fake”.

GFP accused BJP govt of betraying Goan youth, alleging that MRF planned to recruit 250 trainees from Kudal, instead of Goa. “Goa already suffers from rising unemployment, migration of youth, and economic slowdown, and now this govt is allowing companies to exploit Goan land, Goan resources, but deny Goan people jobs,” said Sardesai. The episode has also put the chief minister’s office on the defensive. In a communication to the CMO, Nair claimed that MRF was conducting a recruitment drive for apprentices under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme at Farmagudi ITI on Friday and not Kudal.

Sawant leaned on MRF’s denial to counter Sardesai’s original allegation, but the fresh evidence has cast govt in the light of having rushed to shield the company.