Former State Congress president Niranjan Patnaik urged the State Government to release the youths who were arrested on the charges of creating ruckus at a Government job fair at Jajpur Road.
Patnaik visited the Ragadi Jail in Jajpur and interacted with the youth. “It is disappointing that when an employment fair is organised for both freshers and experienced youths, only the latter are selected. Hence, there is no point to invite the freshers to the fair,” Niranjan argued. Criticising the State Government on the issue, Patnaik said, “Jajpur is considered to be one of the most important industrial areas. But it is disappointing that the State Government has failed create employment so the local youths.”
He alleged that the recent job fair was meant to catch people’s attention towards BJD as general elections getting closer. Commenting on the ruckus, Patnaik said the youths got angry after they were denied jobs on the mere grounds that they were the freshers. Hence, the State Government should not play with the youths’ sentiments.
Odisha Bekari Virodhi Abhijan president Chandra Mishra also demanded immediate release of four arrested youths. He urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to realise his failure in providing employments to youths. Mishra in a Press release reminded Patnaik of his promise made during the 2009 elections to provide 15 lakh jobs, something he has failed to ensure.
Mishra added that resentment and anger has been growing among the unemployed youths and the Jajpur incident was an outburst of that anger.