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Over 180 Elementary Teacher Training (ETT) teachers, accompanied by their family members, staged a protest sit-in outside the residence of Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema in Chandigarh on Saturday.
The demonstration was organised to protest alleged large-scale irregularities and high-handedness of department clerks during the recruitment process of the 180 ETT teachers. Speaking to ANI, one protester declared that they are demanding the suspension of the Education Department clerk for allegedly orchestrating a scam against them to accommodate his own people. The protester further alleged that despite the promise to arrange a meeting with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, no action has been taken to date, accusing the Punjab government of making excuses regarding the ETT recruitment matter. "We are demanding the suspension of the Education Department clerk who orchestrated such a massive scam to accommodate his own people. We are fighting for our rights. The Education Minister and the Finance Minister claim they lack the authority to suspend the clerk and promise to arrange a meeting with the CM, yet nothing has happened to date. They are merely making excuses... We have been seeking justice for 10 years..." said a protester. Another protester stated that they were originally recruited in 2016 but were subsequently dismissed on the grounds of alleged flaws in the recruitment process, before being reinstated following a court order. The protester further alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party government worked in collusion with a departmental clerk to shield the department clerk. Citing an IAS report, the protester added that the issue arose due to the clerk's error, expressing disappointment that they have received no justice despite multiple meetings over the past week. "We were originally recruited in 2016 but were subsequently dismissed on the grounds that there were flaws in the recruitment process. Later, we were reinstated following a court order. However, the Aam Aadmi Party government--in collusion with a departmental clerk--shielded that clerk while reinstating us. Now, an IAS report has stated that the issue arose due to the clerk's error and that we, the 180 ETT teachers, were not at fault; yet, despite multiple meetings over the past week, we have received no justice... We came to Chandigarh seeking justice, but our teachers are being subjected to assault and violence..." another protestor told ANI. Meanwhile, the Punjab Police subsequently intervened and removed the protesters from the vicinity of the finance minister's residence. (ANI)
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