TRE-4 delay: Tejashwi accuses govt of betraying state’s youth

Patna: Leader of opposition in the state assembly, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the NDA govt over the continuing unrest surrounding the BPSC TRE-4 recruitment process, accusing it of betraying the youth and failing to honour its pre-election promises.

A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi described senior BJP leaders as “traitors”, Tejashwi termed the Bihar govt “vishwasghati” and alleged it was committing injustice against job aspirants.

“The youth of Bihar are reminding them of the same promises the NDA made before the elections. So why this atrocity against the youth now? How is demanding the TRE-4 exam a crime? How is protesting the paper leak a crime? Why are the youth of Bihar repeatedly being lathi-charged?” Tejashwi said.

His remarks came after protests by teacher aspirants in Patna on Wednesday. The protesters demanded immediate notification for the BPSC TRE-4 recruitment process, an increase in vacancies and transparency in the selection procedure. Tension escalated near Patna College after police detained several candidates and student leaders, while heavy deployment prevented demonstrators from moving ahead with the protest.

Earlier, education minister Mithilesh Tiwari had alleged the agitation was being fuelled by outsiders.

Targeting the NDA govt, Tejashwi said Bihar’s youth were merely asking the NDA to fulfil its promise of providing jobs. He said demanding examinations and opposing paper leaks could not be treated as offences.

“If the NDA govt is so fond of using the police, let it use them against corruption and crime, against criminals — repeated lathi charges against Bihar’s youth will not be tolerated,” he said.

Tejashwi also questioned the delay in issuing the TRE-4 notification. He claimed that during the 17-month tenure of the previous Mahagathbandhan govt, more than 2 lakh teachers were appointed under TRE-1 and TRE-2 without any paper leak, while the process for reinstatement on 1.3 lakh posts had also been initiated.

He said despite Lok Sabha and assembly elections, and repeated changes in the chief minister, deputy chief ministers and cabinet, the present govt had failed to announce TRE-4 vacancies even after six months in office.

Accusing the govt of being indifferent towards the future of young people, Tejashwi said Bihar’s youth would not forget what he described as the NDA’s “deceit and treachery.”