JOIN USChief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday advised candidates agitating against the government’s rejection of Group A and B probationers selected by Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) in 2011, to give up protest and prepare for re-examination.
The protesters, however, continued their struggle.
Addressing selected women candidates, who met him at his home office ‘Krishna’, Siddaramaiah stood firm that the Government will not change its decision to scrap irregular selection, but assured that fresh notification for recruitment will be issued at the earliest.
“I know you come from poor family background and the decision will adversely affect you some of you. But it cannot be changed because it has been taken after a lot of deliberation,” he said.
Stating that the Government will relax the age limit and other parameters for the genuinely aggrieved candidates, he said in order to accomodate eligible candidates, the Government will create more vacancies and fill up the long pending posts.
Wishing the selected candidates good luck, he said that the decision of the State Government was intended to cleanse the system and ensure KPSC is free from corruption. He expressed confidence that they would pass the examination again. The agitating candidates, after their interaction with the Chief Minister, told reporters that they would continue their protest.
“The Chief Minister says there is no fault of ours and there is no evidence of corruption against us, but also says quashing of the selection notification is aimed at cleansing the system. When we questioned him from where will we get the money for fresh study and who will compensate us for the long wait in vain, he said the Government cannot solve individual problems,” rued Uma, one of the aggrieved candidates who met the Chief Minister in the evening.
Venting anger, the candidates said this is the first time that selected candidates were being forced to appear for re-examination. “UPSC has provision for repeat attempts by failed candidates. The Chief Minister should understand this,” they argued.