Chandigarh, Aug 11 (IANS) Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda on Tuesday said the Congress would hold a major demonstration on August 19 in Panchkula over the demand for the regularisation of Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam (HKRN) employees, besides other issues.
Senior party leaders, the Haryana Congress in‑charge, the state party president, all MPs, MLAs, office‑bearers and party workers will participate in the event. Senior leader Ashok Arora has been entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating the protest.
Hooda told the media that the Congress has been demanding the regularisation of all employees engaged under the Kaushal Nigam (skill corporation) and insisted that future recruitments be permanent rather than contractual.
“During the Assembly elections, the BJP had announced the regularisation of 1,25,000 Kaushal workers to garner their votes. However, even after nearly two years, these contractual employees have not received any law or official notification regarding their regularisation. Consequently, the threat of losing their jobs constantly looms over them; the government frequently dismisses these workers on one pretext or another,” said the Leader of Opposition.
He pointed out that while Kaushal workers are paid a meagre monthly salary of Rs 15,000–20,000, permanent employees receive at least Rs 60,000 for the same work. Kaushal workers should also receive pay parity.
“The BJP had spread misinformation among these employees and their families during the elections, falsely claiming that a Congress government would remove them from their jobs. In reality, both then and now, the Congress has demanded that HKRN daily‑wage workers be made regular government employees and be granted all facilities, such as equal pay, healthcare benefits, leave, travel allowances and reservation, comparable to those of regular staff,” he said.
Hooda said the party has decided to form a committee to study and expose scams involving the government. Party leader Ashok Arora will chair this committee, while MLA Raghubir Kadian will serve as a special invitee. The two senior MLAs will have the authority to decide whom else to include in the committee.
Hooda said the Congress would move an adjournment motion to discuss scams during the upcoming Assembly session. Additionally, a Calling Attention Motion will be submitted to seek answers from the government regarding the breakdown of law and order, rising organised crime and tax hikes based on property tax and collector rates.
Speaking on the issue of guest teachers, the two‑time Chief Minister remarked that since the court has ruled in favour of the teachers, the government should immediately regularise their services and extend them the benefits enjoyed by permanent employees. “Instead of doing so, the government is ignoring the court’s verdict,” Hooda added.
–IANS
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