Minister's Protest Sparks Clash Over Sanitation Worker Jobs in Alwar
A protest by a Rajasthan minister in Alwar for sanitation worker jobs led to a clash between Congress and BJP workers. The demonstration highlighted a long-standing dispute over appointment letters for candidates selected in 2012.
Key takeaways
- A protest by Rajasthan Minister Sanjay Sharma in Alwar for sanitation workers' jobs led to clashes between Congress and BJP supporters.
- Sanitation workers are demanding appointment letters for candidates selected in a 2012 recruitment drive, a matter unresolved since a 2019 High Court directive.
- The protest concluded after five hours with the issuance of five appointment letters, with more promised for August 16.
- Opposition leaders criticized the state government, citing the incident as evidence of administrative dysfunction and ministerial powerlessness.
A political dispute erupted in Alwar, Rajasthan, on Wednesday when Minister of State for Forest Sanjay Sharma joined a protest by sanitation workers outside the Municipal Corporation. The demonstration, demanding appointment letters for individuals selected in a 2012 recruitment drive, escalated into a clash between supporters of Mr. Sharma and local Congress leaders who joined the protest.
The issue stems from unresolved demands by sanitation workers seeking appointment letters. The Rajasthan High Court had directed the Directorate of Local Bodies (DLB) in 2019 to form a committee and address the matter, but it remained pending. Minister Sharma, representing the Alwar Urban constituency, supported the workers' dharna at the Municipal Corporation.
While municipal authorities were preparing to issue appointment letters for 69 candidates, following correspondence and agreement from the sanitation workers' union (reducing the number from the original 329 selected in 2012), the appointments were reportedly stalled. Mr. Sharma attributed the delay to the Alwar Collector and Municipal Commissioner and vowed to remain at the protest site until the letters were distributed.
Tension rose when Congress workers, led by District Congress Committee president Prakash Gangawat, arrived at the scene. This resulted in slogan-shouting and a physical altercation between BJP and Congress workers within the Municipal Commissioner’s chamber, which was eventually de-escalated by police intervention.
The protest concluded after approximately five hours when Additional District Magistrate Yogesh Dagur arrived with five appointment letters. Mr. Sharma presented these to a sanitation workers' representative, stating that letters for the remaining eligible candidates would be issued at an official event on August 16. The Congress party criticized the BJP government, suggesting that the bureaucracy had gained excessive power, undermining ministers and MLAs. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot described Mr. Sharma's protest as an admission of a corrupt and uncontrolled administrative system, stating that ministers had become ineffective.
Sources reviewed
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