Blaming the SAD-BJP Government for not addressing the problems of unemployed youth who are protesting for long to get jobs, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa on Sunday pointed out that this was the second incident in last one month when an unemployed youth had ended his life in helplessness.
Bajwa, during a workers’ meeting, expressed grief and serious concern over suicide by an unemployed lineman Sarabjit Singh at Tarn Taran a day before.
Taking on the Punjab Government for ignoring unemployed youth, Bajwa said that earlier Jaswinder Singh, a veterinary pharmacist in Bathinda - home constituency of SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, had committed suicide under similar circumstances.
“Jobless lineman was protesting for last many months and also held 35-day long hunger strike. Sarabjit Singh was among the jobless linemen who met Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal at Chandigarh previous week, and he didn’t pay any heed to their demand,” said Bajwa.
Bajwa, in fact, demanded a compensation of `10 lakh to each of unemployed youth who committed suicide and suitable jobs for their kin.
He said that there were plenty of incidents of self-immolation and suicides by unemployed youth and many times they were seen protesting on water tanks but SAD-BJP Government has no concern about their plight.
“Non-governance, corruption and vested interests of Badal family are responsible for suicides by unemployed youth and also the farmers in State,” he added.
PPCC chief pointed that SAD had promised in its election manifesto to pay unemployment allowance of Rs 1,000 per person and the youth supported them in the hope of getting allowance and jobs. “Now, educated youth felt cheated in the hands of SAD-BJP Government,” he added.
“During previous regime, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir had promised to give jobs to unemployed linemen but now backed out from their promise. If immediate solution to problem of unemployment is not found, it will trigger a spate of suicides,” Bajwa added.
Bajwa informed that Congress has started campaign to mobilise unemployed youth and Congress MlAs would enroll at least 1,000 unemployed youth with the employment exchanges by the end of August. “Congress party would approach the court against false promise made by SAD-BJP Government with the youth,” he added.