YSR Congress Party chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Monday that his party would continue its protests across Andhra Pradesh until Education Minister Nara Lokesh resigns and a CBI inquiry is ordered into the alleged irregularities in teacher recruitment.
The former Chief Minister condemned what he described as police high-handedness against YSRCP leaders and cadres who staged a protest near the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) office in Vijayawada. He also alleged that TDP workers, disguised as teachers, attacked the protesters. The latter allegation has not been independently established.
“Chandrababu Naidu garu, why are you so afraid and agitated when we demand a CBI inquiry into the DSC scam? Can you and your son, Education Minister Nara Lokesh, simply certify your own recruitment process as transparent? What value does a self-issued certificate from those accused of committing the scam carry? Stop making empty claims. If you have the courage, agree to a CBI inquiry,” Jagan said in a post on X.
Referring to the incidents in Vijayawada, Jagan said YSRCP leaders, students and unemployed youth had attempted to conduct a peaceful rally demanding a CBI inquiry, but alleged that police blocked them and resorted to a lathi-charge.
Jagan questioned whether the Opposition had the democratic right to hold a peaceful rally.
He alleged that serious irregularities had taken place in the DSC recruitment process and accused the government of failing to answer questions raised by the Opposition.
“What are we demanding? We are seeking an impartial CBI investigation into alleged irregularities in a recruitment process connected to the futures of lakhs of candidates. If you are so confident that nothing improper happened, why are you afraid of an investigation?” Jagan asked.
He said lakhs of young people spend years studying and substantial amounts of money preparing for teacher recruitment examinations, and argued that candidates must have confidence that their hard work and merit will be rewarded through a fair recruitment system.
Jagan alleged that the controversy surrounding the DSC recruitment had eroded confidence among unemployed youth and job aspirants.
“Can police barricades, lathi-charges, arrests and stage-managed counter-protests restore this lost trust? Only an impartial CBI investigation can restore public confidence in the recruitment process,” he said.
He further said DSC candidates must receive justice and government recruitment must remain transparent.
“That is why we are fighting. Nara Lokesh must accept responsibility for the alleged DSC irregularities and resign as Education Minister. The government must order a CBI inquiry. Until these demands are met, our voice will continue to resonate across the state,” Jagan said.
