Jobless teachers lathicharged near CM’s Patiala residence

Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 28

The Patiala police lathicharged protesting unemployed ETT teachers outside the Moti Bagh residence of Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday.

The police detained hundreds of teachers who had forced their way to the main gate of the CM residence and held a sit-in there. Several teachers were injured while some of them are said to have suffered fractures as well.

The protesting teachers said the state government had been ignoring their demands continuously. They were protesting the decision of the Education Department to allow BEd graduates apply for posts of ETT teachers.

Deepak Kamboj, president, Unemployed ETT Teachers' Union, said, "The teachers, including women, were thrashed and lathicharged by the police for raising their voice. We have been protesting for months but the government has failed to address the issue. Many teachers have been seriously injured in the police action."

The Democratic Teachers' Front condemned the action against the teachers. Vikram Dev, state president, said, "The Congress government has completely failed to provide jobs to qualified youth. Instead of giving job letters, the government is registering cases against them for raising their voice." Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, state president, SAD (Democratic), condemned police lathicharge against unemployed teachers. He said, "It is shameful that the police lathicharged teachers who have been fighting for their rights since long."

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