The South Western Railway (SWR) officials were forced to cancel physical fitness tests for Group 'D' posts on Thursday at SWR Institute ground near Yeshwanthpur Railway Station following the protest by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (T A Narayan Gowda faction).
Candidates started running helter-skelter when the KRV activists entered the ground around 11 am raising slogans against the Central government, Railway Board and the candidates of other states. The Yeshwanthpur police rushed to the spot and pacified the angry protesters. The Railway officials decided to cancel the ongoing tests after the KRV leaders met them and held a meeting. The KRV activists demanded that only locals should be recruited for Group D posts.
Many candidates were scared to return to the ground to collect their belongings. Later, they came, collected their belongings and departed. Gowda alleged that the Centre had been meting out injustice to Kannadigas in all the issues concerning the Railways. However, the Railway officials refused to comment.
CANDIDATES ANGRY
Several candidates vented their anger against the KRV for targeting them instead of railway board officials. “Any candidate from any part of the country can appear for any type of job of the Central government. We are appearing for the tests as we are eligible,” they said.
Umesh Kumar of Jharkhand said: “I came to Bangalore hoping to do well in the physical test on January 5. I don’t know what to do as the tests have been cancelled.”
Debashish of Orissa said: “The protests began after test of our batch was over. I don’t know what will happen now as they have cancelled the tests.”
KRV has done a right job which the local politicians are unable to do. I am witness to incidents where Kannadigas are being ignored for a job when compared to candidates from other states.
