Now, demand for annulling KPSC selection lists of 98-99, 2004

Activists of the Karnataka Rajya Hindulida Vargagala Jagrutha Vedike sat on an indefinite demonstration here on Monday, demanding that the State government annul the Karnataka Public Service Commission’s (KPSC) recruitment of gazetted probationary officers in 1998, 1999 and 2004, saying the selection process in these years was marred by “large-scale irregularities”.

“We urge the government to annul these recruitments. Vested interests have done injustice to candidates from backward classes and the minorities,” said K S Shivaramu, president of the Vedike, which works for the welfare of backward classes. The demonstration was held at Bannappa Park and about 200 people took part. He warned that the agitation would be intensified if the government failed to meet the demand.

Referring to the ongoing protest by candidates of the 2011 batch, the Vedike accused former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy of “adopting anti-Dalit and anti-minority stand” by supporting them. It accused him of targetting one of the selected candidates, Dr HPS Mythri, who spoke out against corruption in the recruitments. The Vedike also released a letter addressed to Kumaraswamy, in which it raised ten questions.

According to Shivaramu, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had clearly established in its report that large-scale irregularities had taken place in the recruitments. The CID also found irregularities in the selection of 292 out of 383 candidates in 1998 and 95 out of 191 the next year, he claimed.

Meanwhile, the Forum to Protect Interests of KAS Aspirants alleged that candidates from backward classes and minorities were given a raw deal in all these recruitments.