Unemployed youth protests challenge Congress government in Telangana

HYDERABAD: The protest by unemployed youth demanding the postponement of DSC exams and an increase in vacancies for Group II and Group III posts has significantly shaken the Congress Government in Telangana.

What began as sporadic protests has intensified, with increasing numbers of jobless youth joining the agitation. The Congress Government, which initially promised not to suppress any dissent and assured freedom of agitation under the 'Indiramma Rajyam,' has resorted to coercive methods to quell the protests.

Initially, protests were confined to the Osmania University premises. In response, the Congress Government launched a crackdown, arresting several students. The government did not address the hunger strike led by student leader Motilal Naik, forcing him to end his agitation after nine days. Later, suspended Congress leader Bukka Judson undertook a hunger strike, which the government ignored to the extent that police did not report his health condition. Judson's health deteriorated until opposition BRS leaders intervened and had him shifted to a hospital.

The Congress Government, led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, has adopted a controversial strategy to handle the DSC agitation. The Chief Minister attempted to discredit the agitators, claiming that those demanding the postponement of DSC exams were benefiting coaching centres and were not genuine job aspirants. He allegedly made derogatory comments against Motilal and Judson and targeted BRS leaders K Taraka Rama Rao and Harish Rao for the ongoing agitation.

However, the intensifying protests indicate that the demand for postponement of the DSC exam is serious and genuine.

On Saturday night, hundreds of unemployed youths staged a massive protest in Ashok Nagar and Dilsukh Nagar in Hyderabad, demanding an increase in Group-II and Group-III vacancies and the postponement of these exams to December. The protest, predominantly involving candidates preparing for competitive exams, was sparked by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's announcement during a function at JNTU University earlier that evening, stating that the group and DSC exams would not be postponed under any circumstances.

Protestors commenced their rally from the Chikkadpally City Central Library to Ashok Nagar Chowk, blocking traffic and chanting slogans against the government and Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. They asserted that they had worked hard to bring Congress to power and now sought the government’s immediate recognition of their grievances.

Following the sit-in at Ashok Nagar, another group of DSC candidates initiated a sit-in after midnight on Saturday. They marched from Venkatadri Theatre to the metro station, gathering at Rajiv Chowk and demanding the immediate postponement of the DSC exams. The protestors urged the government to view their demands from the perspective of the youth's future rather than through a political lens. They warned against politicizing their protests by linking them to BRS and BJP affiliations.

In response, a heavy police presence was deployed in both Dilsukh Nagar and LB Nagar. The dharnas continued into Sunday morning, with the police eventually dispersing the youths. Throughout Sunday, police maintained a tight vigil in Ashok Nagar, questioning small groups of youths and increasing patrolling around Chikkadpally Library.

In an attempt to dilute the agitation, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikarmarka announced that the State Government would conduct another DSC for 6,000 posts in the next 5-6 months. Unlike the Chief Minister, Bhatti did not adopt a harsh tone, indirectly conveying that the government took the ongoing agitations seriously.

If the DSC exams are postponed, it would be seen as a victory for the agitating students. However, it would also be considered a defeat for Revanth Reddy, sending a wrong political message. Therefore, he remains firm on conducting the DSC as scheduled.