Grade IV job debate in Assam's Barak Valley

A CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: The recently declared result of the examination for the Grade IV posts in various departments is another instance of step motherly stance of the BJP-led government, alleged the opposition leaders like Susmita Dev and Kamalakha Dey Purkayastha. The TMC Rajya Sabha MP Susmita Dev claimed that only 170 candidates from Barak Valley figured in the result sheets. On the other hand, Karimganj MLA and State Congress vice president Purkayastha said that the Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma once assured that grade III and IV posts in Barak Valley would be reserved for the local youths, but the recent results proved his assurances as futile electoral stunt. Kausik Roy, the BJP MLA from Lakhipur however refuted the allegations as he claimed the selection was done exclusively on the basis of merit. "No candidate has made any complaint, but the frustrated opposition leaders are desperate to misguide the commoners," Roy said. Further he said, district wise result sheet was yet to be procured and hence the claim that only 170 candidates from Barak Valley passed the written test, had no practical ground.

Susmita Dev said, the previous government led by Sarbananda Sonowal had taken the Cabinet resolution that no oral interview would be required for the grade IV posts. But now the interview was made compulsory. "We would like to ask the government whether the Cabinet decision of the erstwhile government was written off? If so, then why?" asked Susmita. She further alleged that the candidates of Barak Valley had been intentionally deprived by the BJP government. Students of Barak Valley had a record of cracking national level competitive examinations and here in case of Grade IV posts, they failed to figure in the merit list, she exclaimed. Dev asked the candidates to file RTI to know the actual facts.

Terming the BJP government as anti-Bengali and anti-Barak, Kamalakha Dey Purkayastha said the local leaders of the ruling party were petrified to raise any question as they had their own interest. Purkayastha too said that Himanta Biswa Sarma himself made a commitment that the IV grade posts for Barak Valley would be reserved for the local candidates, but in practical he did just the opposite.

Kausik Roy however said that, government jobs could not be reserved on district basis. This would create problem as other districts or regions would also raise demand for the same. Roy said, during Congress regime, government jobs were practically auctioned. But once the BJP government took the reign, not a single allegation of corruption or nepotism in case of appointment was raised. Candidates had faith in the present government and this made the opposition parties afraid of their very existence, Roy quipped.

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